At least 26 Afghan LEA’s personnel killed in Taliban attack in Helmand

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KANDAHAR: As many as 26 Afghanistan’s Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA’s) personnel were killed which include 19 police officers and seven soldiers when Taliban gunmen attacked police compound in Southern province of Helmand.

A  senior police officer Napas Khan,said Monday from inside the compound to foreign news agency on phone that the police chief in the Naw Zad district, said by telephone that the insurgents had advanced to within 65 feet of the compound after seizing police vehicles and weapons and blocking all roads out of Naw Zad.

He demanded immediate help from the Afghan government to end the Taliban siege adding that the attack started before dawn Monday when the insurgents overran multiple police checkpoints across the district.

As Khan spoke, gunfire and shouting could be heard in the background.

The Taliban, however, have also been clashing with rival insurgents claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group, officials said. In three days of clashes in the western Farah province, at least 10 Taliban fighters and 15 Islamic State supporters were killed, Governor Asif Nang said. He provided no further details.