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Taliban Attack Afghan Army Base, Killing Dozens Taliban Attack Afghan Army Base, Killing Dozens
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Dozens of soldiers were killed when Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers in military uniforms stormed an Afghan Army base in northern Afghanistan on Friday, officials said.KABUL, Afghanistan — Dozens of soldiers were killed when Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers in military uniforms stormed an Afghan Army base in northern Afghanistan on Friday, officials said.
The attack on 209th Corps in Balkh province began around 1 p.m., in a crowded area where soldiers, most of them unarmed, were leaving Friday prayers or eating lunch. The attack on 209th Corps in Balkh Province began around 1 p.m., in a crowded area where soldiers, most of them unarmed, were leaving Friday Prayer or eating lunch.
A Western military official in Kabul, who did want to be publicly identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said the number of deaths could reach 70 or more. Zabiullah Kaker, a member of the Balkh provincial council, said people inside the army corps had told him at least 66 soldiers were killed in the attack and 74 others wounded. A Western military official in Kabul, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the news media, said the number of deaths could reach 70 or more. Zabiullah Kaker, a member of the Balkh provincial council, said people inside the army corps had told him that at least 66 soldiers were killed in the attack and that 74 were wounded.
Ahmad Javid Salim, a spokesman for the Afghan Army’s commando forces who was at the scene of the attack, offered a lower estimate. He said at least 20 Afghan Army soldiers had been killed and 30 others wounded. Ahmad Javid Salim, a spokesman for the Afghan Army’s commando forces who was at the scene of the attack, offered a lower estimate. He said at least 20 Afghan Army soldiers had been killed and 30 had been wounded.
Six assailants dressed in military uniforms drove in two army vehicles past the first checkpoint, according to Lt. Col. Abdul Qahar Aram, a spokesman for the corps. At the second checkpoint, one of the suicide bombers blew up his explosives, allowing the militants to enter, take up positions and start firing at soldiers, who were leaving Friday prayers, which are performed in a large common setting, or making their way to lunch. Six assailants dressed in military uniforms drove in two army vehicles past the first checkpoint, according to Lt. Col. Abdul Qahar Aram, a spokesman for the corps. At the second checkpoint, one of the suicide bombers blew up his explosives, allowing the militants to enter, take up positions and start firing at soldiers, who were leaving Friday Prayer or making their way to lunch.
“The dining room and the mosque are close to each other,” said Colonel Aram. “It was lunch time – they entered both the mosque and the dining room.” “The dining room and the mosque are close to each other,” Colonel Aram said. “It was lunch time; they entered both the mosque and the dining room.”
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack through a spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack through a spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.
The attack came weeks after militants entered the Afghan army’s main hospital in Kabul, and killed more than 50 people in a siege that lasted nearly seven hours. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that carnage. The attack came weeks after militants entered the Afghan army’s main hospital in Kabul, and killed more than 50 people in a siege that lasted nearly seven hours. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that assault.