ISIS, Taliban battle for 2 days in E. Afghanistan – official

An intense gun battle has been taking place over the last two days between Taliban and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) affiliate insurgents in eastern Nangarhar province, AP reports. Hundreds of families have been displaced from villages in Khogyani and Sherzad districts, according to Attahullah Khogyani, the provincial governor’s spokesman. He added that an operation involving air and ground forces was begun to eliminate both insurgent groups from the area. Six civilians were wounded and there are reports of dozens of casualties among the insurgents, the spokesman said. Emergency assistance was rendered to the internally displaced people. Sherzad, Khogyani and Hasarak districts in Nangarhar link with neighboring Logar province as well as the capital, Kabul.