At least 9 killed in attack on Afghan checkpoint

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At least 9 killed in attack on Afghan checkpoint

Kabul (Agencies): At least nine Afghan security officials were killed and six others were wounding when insurgents attacked a checkpoint in the western Herat province.

Gelani Farhad, the provincial governor's spokesman, says the attack late Saturday ignited a gunbattle in which around 10 insurgents were killed and five wounded.

He says the attack was likely carried out by the Taliban, who are active in the district and frequently target security forces and government officials.

Afghan forces have struggled to combat both the Taliban and an Islamic State affiliate since the US and NATO formally ended their combat mission in 2014.