29 dead after IS attack on prison

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — A militant assault on a prison complex in eastern Afghanistan ended Monday after a 20-hour gunbattle, leaving 29 people dead and officials scrambling to recapture hundreds of prisoners, including many from the Islamic State and the Taliban.

The attack at the prison in Jalalabad City was claimed by the Islamic State group. It began Sunday night when a brief cease-fire between the Afghan government and the Taliban was still in place. Its timing underscored the complexity of a conflict that is growing deadlier by the day, even as peace talks continue.

Gen. Yasin Zia, the chief of the Afghan army who arrived in the city to lead the last stretch of the operations, said 10 assailants were involved in the attack and all were killed. The security perimeter was first breached with a car bomb before attackers with assault rifles streamed in and started a gunbattle with prison guards.

At least 29 people had been killed and 48 others wounded, according to Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province. The casualties included civilians, inmates and security forces, he said.

The assault, which left much of the prison’s security barriers destroyed and brought the city to a standstill, was one of the most complicated operations claimed by the Islamic State’s chapter in Afghanistan.

As its territory has been constricted significantly by a campaign of military operations over the past couple of years, the group has largely turned to gruesome attacks on soft targets.