Taliban Kills 30 Police and Troops in Western Afghanistan Ambush

Deputy provincial police chief wounded in attack

Taliban forces ambushed a police convoy in western Farah Province of Afghanistan, killing at least 20 police and wounding scores of others. The deputy provincial police chief was among the wounded.

Just north of this ambush, Taliban fighters attacked a military checkpoint and killed at least 10 soldiers. Five more soldiers remain unaccounted for, and it is unclear if they were captured or simply fled.

The Taliban claimed that they had killed 25 police in the attack, including several commanders. They also reported that four vehicles were destroyed, and large quantities of weapons were seized.

In recent months, the Taliban has used heavy fighting in one area to carry out coordinated attacks in other parts of the country, knowing the Afghan government cannot reinforce them all. This has meant many of the hit-and-run attacks simply happen, and the Taliban forces get away with looted gear.

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.