KABUL, Afghanistan: Armed resistance groups in Afghanistan claimed on Tuesday to have inflicted fresh losses on Taliban regime fighters during separate clashes in the north-eastern Badakhshan province.
The developments come amid escalating fighting in Badakhshan, where anti-Taliban groups have launched a series of operations against Taliban regime positions in recent days.
AFF repels Taliban assault in Zebak
The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) said its fighters repelled several Taliban regime attacks in Zebak district of Badakhshan province at around 10:00 p.m. local time on Monday before launching counteroffensives from two directions.
According to a statement issued by the group, Taliban regime fighters retreated after sustaining casualties during the fighting.
The AFF claimed that five Taliban regime members were killed and four others wounded, while none of its own fighters were injured.
Taliban Assaults Repelled in Zebak, Badakhshan
On the night of 27 July 2026, at approximately 10:00 p.m., fighters of the Afghanistan Freedom Front successfully repelled multiple assaults launched by the Taliban terrorist group in Zebak District, Badakhshan Province.
Following… pic.twitter.com/r170tZR3XS
— Afghanistan Freedom Front (@FREEDOMFRONTAFG) July 28, 2026
Earlier, local sources told Afghanistan International that heavy clashes had erupted in Zebak on Monday evening after Taliban regime forces launched an attack on AFF positions.
Local sources said on Tuesday that Taliban regime fighters suffered casualties and later withdrew from some of their positions.
According to local sources cited by Afghanistan International, fighting in Zebak has continued for nearly a week.
In recent days, the AFF has also released videos claiming that it captured several Taliban checkpoints in the district.
Local sources further told Afghanistan International that the Taliban had deployed additional ground forces and air support to Zebak after the fighting intensified in an effort to reinforce its positions.
Despite the reinforcements, the clashes were continuing and the security situation in the district remained tense, according to the sources.
Senior Taliban regime official killed
Meanwhile, the Taliban regime confirmed that Zabihullah Amiri, the Taliban-appointed Director of Information and Culture for Badakhshan, was killed in an armed attack on Tuesday.
According to Ehsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for the Taliban’s security command in Badakhshan, Amiri was travelling along the Faizabad-Baharak road when armed men riding motorcycles opened fire on his vehicle.
احسانالله کامگار سخنگوی قوماندانی امنیه ولایت بدخشان گفته است که ذبیحالله امیری، رئیس اطلاعات و فرهنگ این ولایت صبح امروز در مسیر فیضآباد-بهارک هدف حمله افراد مسلح موترسیکل سوار قرار گرفته است.
به گفته آقای کامگار او در این حمله جان باخته است.
درهمین حال، سخنگوی قوماندانی… pic.twitter.com/GL70P1WaLS
— Ariana News (@ArianaNews_) July 28, 2026
Kamgar said Amiri was killed in the attack. He added that Amiri’s security guards returned fire, killing one of the attackers at the scene.
Taliban security forces have launched an operation to identify and arrest any remaining suspects involved in the assault, Kamgar said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Taliban authorities have not announced a possible motive.
The killing comes amid continuing reports of violence in parts of Badakhshan, where armed resistance groups have repeatedly launched attacks against Taliban forces in recent months.
NRF attack Taliban regime outpost in Badakhshan
Meanwhile, the National Resistance Front (NRF) claimed responsibility for a separate overnight attack on a Taliban outpost in Badakhshan.
In a statement issued late Monday, the NRF said its fighters attacked a Taliban checkpoint in the Shahran area of Kuran Wa Munjan district at around 1:00 a.m.
The group claimed one Taliban fighter was killed and two others wounded during the operation.
Local sources also confirmed to Afghanistan International that an attack had taken place on Taliban positions in Kuran Wa Munjan. However, the reported casualties have not been independently verified.
The reported attack comes as clashes between Taliban forces and armed resistance groups have intensified across parts of Badakhshan.
In recent days, the AFF has also claimed to have captured Taliban positions in Zebak district and downed Taliban drones.
