Afghanistan Steps Up Anti-Daesh Offensive after Deadly Attack
Local Editor
Afghan forces backed by US airstrikes Tuesday ramped up an offensive against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the terrorist "ISIS" group] in their eastern stronghold, days after the group claimed the deadliest attack for 15 years in the capital Kabul.
Afghan troops seized large parts of the mountainous district of Kot in Nangarhar province, a key Daesh stronghold where the terrorists set up sharia courts and training camps displaying their trademark black flag.
Some 120 militants were killed in the operation including Saad Emarati, a prominent local Daesh commander, provincial spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP.
The offensive came after the twin bombings on Saturday that tore through crowds of minority Shiite Hazaras as they protested over a major power line in Kabul, killing 80 people and leaving hundreds of others maimed.
Daesh claimed the bombings in a statement carried by its affiliated Amaq news agency, calling it an attack on a "gathering of Shiites."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team