140 soldiers killed in Taliban attack on Afghan army base
The death toll from a massive attack by Taliban militants on a military compound in the northern Afghanistan has reached 140.
The attack, seen as the deadliest ever on an Afghan army base, took place in the vicinity of the 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan National Army forces in Mazar-e-Sharif city, the provincial capital of Balkh, on Friday.
Scores of people were also injured in the deadly incident.
Afghan officials say the death toll is likely to go even higher.
Earlier on Friday, Afghan military officials put the death toll at 50.
According to reports, as many as 10 Taliban gunmen stormed the base where Afghan soldiers were leaving a mosque after Friday prayers.
The assailants apparently disguised in military uniforms used rocket-propelled grenades and riffles during the attack.
The Taliban militant group, in a statement, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out in retaliation for the recent killing of several senior Taliban leaders in northern Afghanistan.
Taliban militants have launched their annual spring offensive in the war-torn country, targeting security forces and US-led foreign troops.
The militants were removed from power following the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, but they have stepped up activities in recent months, attempting to overrun several provinces.
Thousands of foreign troops are still in Afghanistan, but apparently maintaining security remains an issue amid almost frequent incidents of violence across the country.
Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has also steadily made inroads into the war-hit country.
The terrorist group, which is mainly active in Syria and Iraq, has recently managed to take recruits from Afghan Taliban defectors. It has also enjoyed defections from al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Russia decides 'at highest level' to remove Taliban from list of terrorists
Dozen killed in Daesh attack on Hazaras welcoming Karbala pilgrims
UN warns Daesh Afghanistan branch growing in strength
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
VIDEO | Struggles of Palestinian women amidst war, displacement
VIDEO | Hezbollah rains attack drones down on elite Israeli brigade
VIDEO | US biased mediation fails
Leader: All captains of criminal, Zionist, terrorist gang must be prosecuted
Iran further raises its oil prices for Chinese buyers: Report
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
