Afghan special forces kill 27 terrorists

Afghan special forces killed 27 terrorists, after launching a new offensive against the Islamic State terror group in eastern Nangarhar province. 

Provincial council member Ajmal Omar said, the special forces, backed by helicopter gunships, targeted Islamic State in Achin district of the province yesterday. 

The province has been a stronghold of the terror group. He said, two local IS leaders were among those killed. 

However, the terrorists' media arm, the Aamaq news agency, claimed that the group repulsed a joint Afghan-US operation in the area. The remoteness of the area makes it impossible to independently investigate conflicting reports. 

Meanwhile, the Taliban launched two blistering attacks on



police outposts in Sar-e-Pul province last night, killing 15 policemen and wounding 21 others.

Provincial council chief Mohammad Noor Rahmani said, fierce gun battles raged for several hours in Sayyad district and outside Sar-e-Pul.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousof Ahmadi has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

The Taliban have been carrying out repeated attacks targeting Afghan forces despite stepped-up efforts by the United States to find a negotiated end to the country's 17-year war. 

The relentless violence and deteriorating security battering Afghanistan come when President Donald Trump is considering withdrawal of 7,000 US soldiers in the summer.