More Than 100 Afghan Soldier Were Killed In a Taliban Attack On a Military Base In Northern Afghanistan

- More than 100 Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban
attack on an army base in northern Afghanistan
- The fight lasted for several hours near the city of
Mazar-e Sharif in northern Balkh province
- The insurgents targeted those leaving Friday prayers
at the base’s mosque, as well as others in a canteen.

More than 100 Afghan soldiers were killed or wounded in a
Taliban attack on an army base on Friday, April 21, the
defence ministry has confirmed.

BBC reports that the fighting lasted for several hours near
the city of Mazar-e Sharif in northern Balkh province.

The Taliban said in a statement they had carried out the
attack, using bombers to breach defences.

Earlier estimates put the death toll as high as 134, but a
statement from the defence ministry on Saturday, April 22,
confirmed more than 100 soldiers had been "killed or
injured" but a security official in Mazar-e Sharif told the BBC
that more than 100 had died, including a top military
commander.

At least 10 Taliban militants were killed in the fight and one
attacker was detained.

A military spokesman said the Taliban fighters wore army
uniforms and drove through military checkpoints before
launching the raid.

Relatives of some of the soldiers gathered outside the base
to take possession of coffins. They all questioned the
security measures in place at the main entrance.

Jan Agah, whose nephews were serving at the base died and
another injured in the attack, said "If strict inspections had
taken place, the attackers would not have passed the first
gate."

The base at Mazar-e-Sharif is home to the Afghan National
Army's 209th Corps, responsible for providing security to
most of northern Afghanistan, including Kunduz province -
which has seen heavy recent fighting.