25 IS men die in separate attacks

Monitoring Desk

JALALABAD/KABUL: More than two dozens of Islamic State (IS) or Daesh fighters were killed after airstrikes and clashes in Nangarhar and Logar provinces, officials said Tuesday.

The Coalition forces’ unmanned aircraft targeted Daesh gunmen in the Bandar Dara area of bordering Achin district, killing 15 gunmen, said Attaullah Khugyani, spokesman of Nangarhar governor.

Two more Daesh fighters were killed in the Oghaz area of Haska Mena ditrict, he told local media outlet.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by Nangarhar police said four Daesh members were killed after an airstrike in the Sheen Tangi area of Achin district.

In Sarkh district of Logar province, Afghan army troops ambushed anti-government gunmen who wanted to attack a security post, said Salim Saleh, spokesman of Logar governor.

He said four gunmen were killed and three more wounded in the ambush.

Similarly, A religious scholar, who also served as prayer leader, has been killed by unknown gunmen in the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, an official said on Tuesday.

Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the incident occurred in the limits of the 7th municipal district of Jalalabad.

He said unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire at Syed Hazrat Haqqani, a prayer leader at the Khogyani Wazir Mosque, and killed him.

According to him, the attackers managed to escape. However, police are investigating the incident. He said Maulvi Haqqani was also a teacher at a local madrassa.

“Haqqani has recently moved to Jalalabad due to security issues in Khogyani district. His home was set ablaze by Daesh fighters recently,” the gubernatorial spokesman said.

Governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal, meanwhile, expressed deep sorrow over Maulvi Haqqani’s assassination and extended his condolences to the cleric’s family.