Taliban Kill Scores, Overrun Bases Across Afghanistan

20 border troops killed, 25 captured along Iran border

Taliban forces launched nine separate substantial attacks in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, killing at least 59 security forces nationwide and overrunning several bases and outposts in different parts of the country.

Attacks were reported as far north as Kunduz, and as far south as Kandahar. The biggest attack was in the far west, along the Iranian border in Farah, where Taliban overran a border post, killing 20 soldiers and capturing as many as 25.

The Taliban confirmed that the Farah base was not only seized, but that they were able to seize substantial numbers of weapons and equipment at the site as well. Only a handful of the border patrol were able to escape the attack.

Taliban forces seized posts in Ghazni, Kandahar, and in other areas. Afghan officials are unusually quiet about the fighting, and it’s not clear where the defense ministry will give priority for reinforcements.If recent events are any indication, they will only be able to reinforce a handful of the targeted areas.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.