Afghan airstrikes kill 8 militants, foil Taliban attack attempt

MAZAR-I-SHARIF -- Afghan fighting planes struck a Taliban gathering in the northern Balkh province early Friday, leaving eight dead, an army spokesman said.

The strike foiled the militants' attempt to attack a district in the province, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said.

According to Rezai, a group of Taliban insurgents gathered in Reg Miragha area of Dawlatabad district planning to storm security checkpoints. The fighting planes acting on tip-off struck the gathering, killing eight insurgents on the spot and wounding a dozen others.

The militants fled away after suffering casualties and their plans to attack the district have been foiled, Rezai said.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Balkh province haven't commented yet.