Hundreds of militants have attacked a large logistics convoy in Afghanistan's wetersn province of Badghis, killing 13 government troops. Regional officials confirmed that more than 300 militants launched an assault late Thursday on a convoy of 47 vehicles which was transporting winter supplies for their units at Bala Murghab district in Badghis. Afghan forces and pro-Taliban insurgents were engaged in crossfire which lasted for several hours, the officials added. "In a several-hour battle, 13 Afghan soldiers and policemen were killed and 11 others were wounded. Seven Taliban fighters were also killed," the deputy provincial governor Abdul Ghani Sabri said.
Meanwhile, a border police official Naeem Khan said sixteen other Afghan troops were captured by the militants. Khan added that helicopters were dispatched to the area and fired at the insurgents following the clash.
Pro-Taliban militants regularly attack supply convoys, including those headed to US-led and NATO military bases.