Kabul, Dec 31 (UNI) As many as 28 members of the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS) have been killed in the Afghan military's airstrikes in the eastern Nangarhar province, the Afghan Defence Ministry said on Monday.
"28 ISIS insurgents including Sediq Yar, ISIS Intelligence in charge, 3 key commanders each, Sayed omer Shahid, Hadi Orakzai and Mawlavi Shahid Kunari were killed in ANA airstrikes on an ISIS hideout in Shalkhi village, Muhmand valley, Achin district of Nangarhar Province," Ministry of Defense Afghanistan tweeted.
The intense military pressure has slowed the Taliban's territorial expansion and many Taliban fighters (including a few important commanders) have been killed over the past one year. But the group has managed to hold its territory and retain its operational capacity to carry out deadly attacks across the country.
On the other hand, the intensive aerial strikes have been criticised for causing civilian casualties.