(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Terrorists linked to ISIS abducted and killed around 30 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, raising concerns about the group's expanding presence beyond its eastern stronghold.
The killings occurred late Tuesday north of Firoz Koh, the capital of Ghor province, with the local government calling it a revenge attack after a local ISIS commander was killed.
ISIS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq and is making steady inroads in Afghanistan, has so far not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
"Our security forces with the help of locals conducted an operation and killed an ISIS commander yesterday. ISIS fighters in return abducted around 30 villagers, mostly shepherds," Ghor Governor Nasir Khazeh told AFP.
"Their dead bodies were found by local people this morning."
Abdul Hameed Nateqi, a Ghor provincial council member, gave a similar account to AFP, adding that the assailants were self-proclaimed supporters of ISIS.
The killings underscore unravelling security in Afghanistan as the resurgent Taliban continue a push into urban centres 15 years after they were toppled from power.
ISIS fighters have been trying to expand their presence in Afghanistan, winning over sympathisers, recruiting followers and challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country's east.
In March Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced that the terrorists had been defeated after local security forces claimed victory in a months-long operation against the group.
But ISIS terrorists have continued to launch deadly strikes in the country.
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source : AFP
Wednesday
26 October 2016
1:54:27 PM
787967
Terrorists linked to ISIS abducted and killed around 30 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, raising concerns about the group's expanding presence beyond its eastern stronghold.