Taliban infiltrators massacre at least 140 Afghan soldiers in military base attack
Afghan security officials stand guard near the site where militants in Afghan army uniforms penetrated security checkpoints and massacred troops leaving Friday prayers. Photo: AAP
As many 140 Afghan soldiers have been killed by Taliban attackers apparently disguised in military uniforms in what would be the deadliest assault ever on an Afghan military base.
One official in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where the attack occurred on Friday, said on Saturday at least 140 soldiers were killed and many others wounded.
As many as 10 Taliban fighters, dressed in Afghan army uniforms and driving military vehicles, talked their way onto the base and opened fire on soldiers eating dinner and leaving a mosque after Friday prayers, officials say.
The attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and rifles.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement the attack was retribution for the recent killing of several senior Taliban leaders in northern Afghanistan.
The NATO-led military coalition deploys advisers to the base where the attack occurred to train and help the Afghan forces but coalition officials said no international troops were involved in the attack.
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