Afghan assault killed at least 20 insurgents

KABUL: An Afghan oficial says an assault on Taliban positions in northeastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province, which included Us.air strikes, killed at least 20 insurgents, contradicting Taliban claims of civilian casualties. In southern Helmand province, a US drone strike killed four suspected insurgents.

Sakhi Mushwani, a Parliamentarian from Kunar province, said several civilians were injured in the attack late on Thursday.

US military spokesman Sgt. 1st class Debra Richardson said U.S. strikes were requested by the Afghan National Security Forces, who led the Kunar offensive. They were accompanied by a handful of US soldiers acting in an advisory capacity. Taliban said 60 civilians were killed in the airstrike but they often exaggerate their claims.

Richardson said both incidents are being investigated, adding that all claims of civilian casualties are taken seriously.

The US military said an American service member has died in a noncombat-related incident in Afghanistan, without offering further information.

The military’s statement says the incident happened on Thursday and is being investigated.

The service member’s identity was being withheld until his family could be notiied.

About 14,000 US military personnel are serving in Afghanistan, training and assisting Afghanistan’s beleaguered national forces, which come under near daily attacks by the Taliban who hold sway over nearly half the country.

The Us-led NATO mission handed off Afghanistan’s security to Afghan troops in December 2014, but they have struggled to quash the insurgency, which has grown to include an Daesh afiliate.