KABUL, Afghanistan: The anti-Taliban Afghanistan United Front (AUF) said on Saturday that its fighters had attacked a Taliban regime position in Faryab province, killing two Taliban members and wounding four others.
The group said one of its fighters was missing after the operation in the Malghay area of the newly established Bandar district.
Anti-Taliban AUF Team Strikes Taliban Position in Faryab
The anti-Taliban AUF reportedly attacked a Taliban position in Malghay, Faryab, killing 2 Taliban and injuring 4 others. One AUF fighter was reported missing in action. pic.twitter.com/zLAGXkapoG
— Afghan Times (@AfghanTimes7) August 16, 2026
The United Front said its fighters carried out the attack at night against a Taliban regime outpost in Malghay after an exchange of fire. It described the operation as a successful assault on a Taliban regime fighting position.
The resistance group said two Taliban regime members were killed and four wounded.
Last night, the AUF assault team conducted a successful operation against enemy base in Malghay area of the newly established Bandar district of Faryab province destiny the enemy fighting position killing two Taliban and injuring 4 more. During this operation one friendly force…
— Afghanistan United Front (@afgunitedfront) August 16, 2026
The United Front said the operation was carried out in response to appeals from residents of Faryab for “freedom and justice”. It vowed to continue its armed campaign against the Taliban regime, the resistance group stated.
شب گذشته نیروهای دلیر جبهه متحد افغانستان عملیات تهاجمی را بالای یکی از پوسته های دشمن در منطقه ملغی ولسوالی جدید تاسیس بندر ولایت فاریاب راه اندازی نمودند.
این عملیات پس از درگیری شدید میان دو طرف به پایان رسیده و طی آن دو نفر از افراد دشمن هلاک و چهار تن دیگر آنان مجروح شده… pic.twitter.com/OTqtqdq8uo— Afghanistan United Front (@afgunitedfront) August 16, 2026
United Front intensifies operations
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan United Front also claimed that its fighters had carried out operations against a Taliban regime position in Dawlatabad district in neighbouring Balkh province.
It said two Taliban regime members were killed, the position was captured and weapons and other equipment were seized.
The reports come amid increased attention to armed opposition activity in northern Afghanistan, particularly in Badakhshan and other provinces.
Fighting intensifies in Badakhshan
The latest claims come as fighting between Taliban regime forces and fighters loyal to dissident Taliban commander Juma Khan Fateh has entered its sixth day in Nusay district of northern Badakhshan province.
Afghan media reports said Taliban regime forces attempted to enter Nusay on Saturday morning, prompting Fateh’s fighters to open fire. Heavy fighting was reported throughout the day, with several Taliban regime fighters reportedly killed.
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗬 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗡𝗨𝗦𝗔𝗬: On the morning of 15th August, when TTA forces attempted to enter Nusay, Juma Khan’s fighters opened fire on Hibatullah’s forces. Heavy clashes have been ongoing since morning inflicting severe casualties on Taliban forces with multiple… pic.twitter.com/KkyabOygSk
— Pak-Afghan Matters (@pakafghanmatter) August 15, 2026
Fateh’s forces also reportedly repelled a Taliban regime attack in Madud village, killing two Taliban fighters and surrounding several others, according to the reports.
A local resident who contacted sources using a Tajik SIM card said Taliban forces had cut Wi-Fi and other communications across the area.
The fighting follows the reported decision by Fateh to join the United Afghanistan Front, a development former Afghan army general Sami Sadat said had strengthened armed opposition to the Taliban.
Sadat warns of ‘bigger surprises’
Sadat, one of the prominent former Afghan military figures backing armed opposition to the Taliban regime, has warned that the Taliban regime is weakening five years after returning to power.
In an audio message, Sadat said resistance against the Taliban regime had gained momentum and warned that “bigger surprises” were coming in the days ahead.
Gen. Sami Saadat’s latest audio message delivers a clear warning: after five years, the Taliban regime is weakening.
Juma Fateh Khan’s decision to join the Afghanistan United Front has further strengthened the resistance.
Bigger surprises are coming for the Taliban in the days… pic.twitter.com/XJ3RwnI51S— Open Secrets (@OpenSecrets7Ave) August 15, 2026
On August 2, Sadat said he had ordered United Front forces to begin military operations across Afghanistan.
“Today at 5:00 AM, I ordered all military members of the United Front to begin military operations,” he said in a video message.
The announcement came about two weeks after Taliban regime forces briefly lost control of the district centre of Yaftal-e Payeen in Badakhshan, according to reports.
Also Read: UN Closely Monitoring Fighting in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan
The reported loss was significant because it was described as the first reported instance of the Taliban losing control of a district centre since returning to power in August 2021.
Reports from Badakhshan have also pointed to internal clashes involving Taliban fighters and attacks that killed senior Taliban officials.
United Front claims attacks in south
The Afghanistan United Front said on Friday that its fighters had carried out three operations against Taliban regime forces in Helmand and Kandahar provinces during the previous 24 hours.
The group said two Taliban regime police officers were killed and two others wounded in an attack on a Taliban police district in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province.
It also claimed that two other Taliban regime members were targeted in a separate operation in the Bolan area of Lashkar Gah’s seventh police district.
In Daman district of Kandahar province, the group said its fighters targeted another Taliban regime member.
The United Front said those targeted had been involved in the detention, torture and killing of security and defence personnel who served under Afghanistan’s former government.
The United Afghanistan Front is not the only armed group challenging Taliban rule.
The National Resistance Front, led by Ahmad Shah Massoud’s son, has maintained an armed campaign against the Taliban since 2021.
Recent fighting in Badakhshan has raised questions about whether resistance could become more consequential.
“In these five years, this opposition existed in two forms: political and military… As the five-year mark approaches, both forms of opposition have taken shape,” former Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Umer Daudzai told German broadcaster DW.
