Dozens of Afghan troops killed in Taliban suicide attack in Kandahar province
At least 43 Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban-claimed suicide attack on a military base in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, officials said, the third assault on a security installation this week.
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Just two soldiers are known to have survived unscathed after the attack on the base in the Chashmo area of Maiwand district in Kandahar province, the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that nine soldiers were wounded and six unaccounted for.
Defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP the attackers detonated at least one explosive-packed Humvee vehicle and razed the compound in the early morning assault.
The Taliban claimed the ambush in a message to journalists which said all 60 security personnel on the base were killed.
Ten insurgents died, the ministry said.
"We have sent a delegation to assess the situation. The base is under ANA (Afghan National Army) control," Waziri told AFP.
It was the third suicide and gun attack on a security installation this week and takes the total death toll to more than 100, including soldiers, police and civilians.
(AFP)
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