KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 Afghan soldiers were killed and several others wounded after Taliban attacked an army base in southern province of Kandahar overnight, a provincial source said on Tuesday.
"Hundreds of armed militants attacked an Afghan National Army Base in Seyya Sang locality, Shah Wali Kot district roughly at 11:00 p.m. Monday, sparking heavy clashes that continued until early hours of Tuesday," the source told Xinhua anonymously.
The militants failed to breach the targeted base as additional forces arrived at the site shortly after the fighting broke out.
"The ANA soldiers manning the base repelled the attackers, but 10 soldiers lost their lives and nine soldiers wounded during the clashes in the province, 450 km south of Afghan capital of Kabul," according to the source.
He said the attackers arrived by vehicles from neighboring Zabul province before the attack started.
Several militants were also killed and wounded during the gun battle, but their number could not be exactly specified at this span of time, the source noted.
Earlier on Tuesday, an official of the army's Corps 205 Attal based in the region confirmed that nine soldiers were killed and nine wounded.
Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since late last month when the Taliban insurgents launched their annual rebel offensive and intensified attacks across the country.
