FAIZABAD (PAN insurgents, including two commanders, were killed during an ongoing security operation in the Warduj district of northeastern Badakhshan province, officials said on Sunday.

A Tajikistani rebel commander, Fatehullah, and a Taliban commander, Qari Salim, were among the dead, Afghan National Army (ANA)’s commando unit spokesman in the north, Javed Saleemi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The offensive involving Afghan police, army and local police personnel was carried out on Thursday, he said, adding three insurgents were also wounded.

A 40-member Taliban group, which had recently sneaked into the district, was targeted in an airstrike that killed and wounded a number of them, he added. One ANA soldier was killed and a tank destroyed during the operation.

But Warduj district chief Daulat Khan said two ANA soldiers had been killed and four others wounded in the still ongoing operation.

A Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed 25 Afghan security forces were killed and 28 others were wounded during the engagement.

On Saturday local officials said 13 insurgents, included a commander Mullah Hafiz, were killed in the district.

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