Drone strike kills 20 Taliban insurgents in Afghan Kunduz province

 At least 20 Taliban insurgents were killed in a drone strike in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, local officials said. The airstrike was carried out earlier Tuesday in Dasht-e-Archi district targeting two vehicles of the Taliban insurgents, according to the Afghan (Khaama Press). 

    Provincial police spokesman Hejratullah Akbari said the two vehicles were targeted in Mullah Quli area. He said preliminary reports suggest a number of the Taliban commanders were also among those killed in the airstrike. 

    Kunduz is among the relatively volatile provinces in northern Afghanistan were anti-government armed militant groups are actively operating in a number of its districts and often carry out insurgency activities. The Taliban militants launched a major offensive during the recent weeks in a bid to capture key parts of Kunduz province, including the strategic Kunduz city which was seized by the group last year. 

    The offensive was launched as the group announced its spring offensive earlier last month and vowed to carry out more attacks across the country. Meanwhile, the Afghan National Security Forces arrested a military chief of the Taliban group, Qari Salim, arrested during a special night raid late last month. Qari Salim was a key leader of the Taliban group who played a vital role in the collapse of Kunduz city last year.

Source: QNA