HERAT, Afghanistan, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 Afghan army soldiers were killed after Taliban militants attacked an army camp in Afghanistan's western province of Herat overnight, a local official said Friday.
"Hundreds of Taliban militants attacked and overran an army camp in Cheshma area of Shindand district, Herat province late Thursday night, killing 14 army soldiers," the official who declined to be named told Xinhua.
The militants also captured 20 army personnel along with amount of weapons and ammunition and took them to an unknown location after the attack in the restive district, the official added.
He said the militants also suffered casualties but did not give exact figures.
The district has been the scene of heavy clashes as Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints and army camps from time to time. Early in June, 17 Afghan soldiers were killed after Taliban stormed an army checkpoint in Shindand.
The Afghan security forces' casualties have risen recently as they struggle against a surge in attacks by the Taliban militant group and other anti-government fighters.
In southern Kandahar province, one police officer and two militants were killed after Taliban attacked a police checkpoint with guns in Police District 11 of provincial capital Kandahar city earlier on Friday.
