Fresh fighting has erupted in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, where the Afghanistan Freedom Front, or AFF, claims it has launched one of its largest operations against Taliban positions in recent months.
According to the resistance group, coordinated attacks in Zebak district killed at least 21 Taliban fighters, including several local commanders, while another 37 were wounded. The AFF also claims its fighters captured multiple Taliban checkpoints, seized large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment, and targeted a Taliban helicopter with rocket fire during the clashes.
The resistance group says the operation began on the morning of July 23 from multiple directions and that heavy fighting continued for hours. It also claims Taliban forces suffered significant losses and were forced to retreat from several strategic positions.
Meanwhile, Taliban officials have acknowledged that clashes took place in Zebak district but dispute the AFF's version of events, maintaining that their forces remain in control of the area.
The developments come as anti-Taliban resistance activity appears to be increasing in parts of northern Afghanistan, particularly in Badakhshan, where armed opposition groups continue to challenge Taliban rule.
However, the battlefield claims made by both sides have not been independently verified, making it difficult to determine the full scale of the fighting or the exact number of casualties.
If confirmed, the latest clashes would mark another significant escalation in Afghanistan's ongoing armed resistance, highlighting persistent security challenges nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power.
