Afghan army recaptures Yamgan district

Afghanistan’s army has recaptured Yamgan District of the northeastern province of Badakhshan from Taliban militants.

According to Badakhshan deputy provincial governor Gul Mohammad Bidar, the Afghan National Army soldiers retook the district after hours of battle against the Taliban militants.

The official added that at least 20 Taliban militants were killed and ten others wounded.

The Afghan Interior Ministry says Afghan national security forces have killed 36 militants and injured nearly 20 others in operations conducted in the provinces of Nangarhar, Kunduz, Maidan Wrdak, Logar, Ghazni, Paktia and Herat.

Afghan forces also arrested at least 10 militants and confiscated five improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the provinces of Laghman, Paktia, and Herat.

Over the past few months, the Taliban have stepped up offensives against US-led foreign troops as well as Afghan national and provincial security forces.

The militant group recently announced the start of its “spring offensive” across Afghanistan and has vowed to increase attacks on US-led troops stationed in the country as well as Afghan forces.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still gripped by insecurity.

Tens of thousands of foreign troops are stationed in war-torn Afghanistan.