Taliban Ambush Leaves Six Afghan Soldiers Dead in Farah

At least six Afghan army soldiers have been killed and five more injured in Taliban ambush in western Farah province of Afghanistan, officials said Saturday.

The incident took place on Friday night in Pusht Koh Qala Gah district of the province when more than 300 Taliban militants coordinated  attack on Afghan army in a bid to take control of the district, said Provincial Police Chief Gulbahar Mujahid.

Pokht Koh District Governor Abdul Hakim confirmed the incident and said that seven insurgents were killed and eight more wounded, following the Afghan forces resistance.

Some local sources, however, said that the dead toll of Afghan soldiers in the incident was more than the figure reported.

The Taliban scale of attacks and the U.S. counter-terrorism airstrikes in the country have caused many casualties to Afghan civilians and security forces, according to watchdog groups. 

On Friday, at least 15 Afghan soldiers were killed in U.S. airstrike in Gireshk district of southern Helmand province.

According to the statement by the U.S. forces based in Afghanistan, the airstrike targeted the Afghan soldiers who were gathered in a compound, following a U.S. supported operation in the district.

The U.S. forces statement said that there would be an investigation “to determine the specific circumstances that led to this incident”.