At least 43 Afghan soldiers killed in attack on military base

At least 43 Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban-claimed attack on a military base in south Afghanistan on Thursday. It is the third such attack on a security facility this week.

"A group of insurgents attacked an army base in the Chashmo area of Maiwand district in Kandahar province," the country’s defense ministry said in a statement, noting that as well as the fatalities, nine soldiers were wounded and six others are missing.

The Afghan Taliban stormed the military base at around 2:50 a.m. local time with at least one explosive-packed vehicle, following hours of gunfire.

Casualties were reported from both sides, at least ten Taliban were also reported killed in the morning assault.

The Taliban insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when Afghan security forces took back full security responsibilities from US and NATO troops.

(CGTN & PACIFIC DAILY)