Shaheen Corps releases the names of 14 senior Taliban leaders killed in Balkh airstrikes

The 209th Shaheen Corps in a statement said Sunday that the airstrikes killed 48 Taliban militants including 14 senior leaders of the group in Sholgara district.
The Ministry of Defense had earlier said the airstrikes have killed 45 Taliban militants including 3 of their shadow district governors.
The defense ministry in a statement said the airstrikes also killed several commanders of Taliban.

Identities of senior Taliban leaders killed in Balkh airstrikes:

1. Abdul Ghani alias Turabi, shadow district govenror of Taliban for Char Bolak.
2. Mawlavi Hanan, shadow district governor of Taliban for Sholgarah.
3. Gul Nabi alias Mubariz, the shadow district governor of Taliban for Chemtal.
4. Damla Nasi, deputy shadow district governor of Taliban for Shogara.
5. Rasool Jan Sadat, shadow district intelligence chief of Taliban for Chemtal.
6. Mawlavi Javid, shadow district military chief of Taliban for Chemtal.
7. Mawlavi Najibullah, senior Taliban commander in Sholgara district.
8. Mawlavi Nazir, one of the senior commanders of Taliban in Sholgara.
9. Abdulhai alias Mansor, oen of the senior commanders of Taliban in Chemtal.
10. Eatullah Sabawon, one of the senior commanders of Taliban in Charbolak.
11. Qari Sardar Mukhlis, one of the senior commanders of Taliban in Chemtal.
12. Dadullah, one of the senior commanders of Taliban in Chemtal.
13. Asadullah Shahid, one of the senior commanders of Taliban in Chemtal.
14. Noor Aga Khalid, the military commission chief of Taliban in Charbolak.

Major Taliban attack repulsed:

Meanwhile, the 209^th Shaheen Corps said the security forces conducted the airstrikes at around 2:00 am local as militants were preparing for a massive attack on security check posts.
The 209th Shaheen Corps also added that the airstrikes wounded 15 Taliban militants.
In the meantime, sources in the Afghan Air Force said the U.S. forces based in Afghanistan carried out the airstrikes.

Balkh Province:

The security situation in northern Balkh has deteriorated during the recent months.
Taliban militants are active in some districts of the province and often conduct terrorist related activities.
Meanwhile, the Afghan forces routinely conduct counter-terrorism operations against the anti-government armed groups in this province.
The U.S. forces also conduct regular airstrikes in restive parts of the country to suppress Taliban and other anti-government militants.