Afghan official says Chinese, Uzbek Islamic State militants killed in air raid
By Associated Press | Published: 08th February 2018 03:08 PM |
Last Updated: 08th February 2018 03:08 PM | A+A A- |
Representational image. A ball of fire rises following an air strike. (File | AP)
KABUL: An Afghan official says a Chinese and three Uzbek militants have been killed in an air raid against the Islamic State group in northern Jowzjan province earlier this week.
The airstrikes were part of a joint operation with the U.S.-led coalition.
The provincial police chief, Faqir Mohammad Jowzjani, said on Thursday the airstrikes killed 25 IS fighters, including one Chinese national and three nationals from neighboring Uzbekistan.
He says IS has become prominent in Darzab district, where the airstrikes took place, and also in Kush Tepa district.
IS emerged in Afghanistan in 2014, mostly from the ranks of disgruntled Taliban, but has been increasingly active in the country's north, numbering in the thousands.
Among the militants are many Uzbek nationals, formerly members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan militant group.
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