9 Afghan Soldiers Killed in IED Attacks: Statement
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Up to nine Afghan soldiers have been killed in separate improvised explosive device (IED) explosions since early Tuesday, said the country's Defense Ministry on Wednesday.
"Over the past 24 hours, nine Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel had been martyred in improvised explosive device (IED) attacks across the country," the ministry said in a statement.
The Taliban insurgent group fighting the government has intensified attacks in spring and summer known as the fighting season in the country.
The Taliban home-made IEDs remained a major threat to Afghan troops. More than one dozen soldiers have been killed in similar attacks over the past one week.
The Afghan security forces casualties have risen recently as the United States and NATO troops in Afghanistan switched from combat to support role, namely training, advising and assisting Afghan forces, Xinhua reported.
More than 51,000 NATO-led foreign troops, down from the peak of 130,000 in 2010, are currently being deployed in the central Asian state.
The war-torn country is due to take over the responsibility for its own security from foreign troops by the end of 2014.