Taliban battle Afghan police, troops in Farah near Iran

Taliban fighters battled Afghan police and troops in the western city of Farah overnight, officials said on Thursday. Security forces struggled to regain control of a city that has been under growing pressure from the militants for months. The latest fighting came a day after officials said the city was clear of insurgents who had overrun many areas following a surprise attack in the early hours of Tuesday. “A number of Taliban clashed with Afghan forces in different parts of the city,” Reuters quoted Fazel Ahmad Sherzad, the city’s police chief, as saying. “Right now there is no fighting but a search and clearance operation is underway,” he said. US forces have provided air support in Farah, with A-10 attack aircraft and pilotless drones, while the Afghan Air Force has conducted numerous strikes with its own helicopters and A-29 ground attack aircraft.