The Special Operations Forces (SoF), Commandos, of the Afghan National Army (ANA), have been deployed to southern Helmand province to push the Taliban militants out of Khanshin district.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the commando forces were deployed to Khanshin district where Taliban launched a major attack.
A statement by MoD said at least 18 Taliban insurgents were killed shortly after launching the attack on Khanshin.
The statement further added that the militants were killed as a result of the airstrikes involving the Afghan forces and the US forces in Afghanistan.
This comes as reports emerged earlier today suggesting that the control of the district fell to Taliban control after hours of heavy gun battle.
The involvement of the US forces providing air support comes as the US administration granted broader role to the US forces in the country to fight the Taliban-led insurgency.
Local officials in Helmand said heavy clashes are still underway after scores of Taliban militants launched a coordinated attack late on Friday night.
Provincial governor’s spokesman Omar Zwak confirmed the clash but did not comment regarding the fall of the district.
However the Taliban group claimed that heavy casualties were incurred to the Afghan forces after the district was fully taken by the group’s fighters.
