Taliban Kills 15 Troops in Attack on North Afghanistan Checkpoint

Taliban forces attacked a government checkpoint in the northern Balkh Province of Afghanistan on Tuesday, according to officials, killing at least 15 security forces at the checkpoint.

Details are still emerging on the attack, but the checkpoint was guarded by both soldiers and the Afghan NDS intelligence directorate. The Defense Ministry confirmed 7 soldiers killed, suggesting the rest were NDS.

The Taliban took credit for the attack, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying that 20 soldiers were killed all told, including the commander, and that the base itself was captured outright. Afghan officials have not commented on the fate of the base.

A joint base operated by military and NDS, the loss would not only allow the Taliban to loot weapons, as typical in base takeovers, but potentially seize some valuable intelligence from the NDS.