Afghan forces suffer heavy toll in first battles with Taliban
May 03, 2015 21:24
Afghan security forces are suffering record casualties in their first battles against the Taliban since the US combat mission in Afghanistan ended in December after more than 13 years. The number of killed and wounded so far this year is about 70 percent higher than during the same period last year, said Colonel Brian Tribus, director of public affairs for NATO's Afghanistan mission.
"We are taking so many casualties, that's the reality," said Afghan Interior Minister Nur al-haq Ulumi. "We are fighting by ourselves."
Some 4,950 Afghan army and police personnel were killed or wounded in the first 15 weeks of 2015, against 2,900 during the same period a year ago, said a coalition military officer.
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