Taliban forces Sunday launched a major attack in a bid to retake the central district of Yakawlang they lost to the Afghan opposition about a week ago, opposition sources said.
Taliban jets carried out seven air raids while gunship helicopters bombed front lines at Yakawlang repeatedly, said Ahmad Bahram, spokesman for the Shiite faction of Hezb-i-Wahdat.
He had earlier put the number of jet strikes at four.
The spokesman said the Taliban had advanced close to Yakawlang and had captured a key area called Feroz-Bahar, around four kilometers (2.5 miles) east of Yakawlang city.
Bahram said the opposition forces were putting up strong resistance to save the city.
"If fighting remains intense our forces might become exhausted and we will retreat from Yakawlang," he added.
The spokesman said civilians had been asked to leave Yakawlang in view of the Taliban threat. He said at least one person had been wounded in the bombing.
A senior Taliban official in Kabul confirmed the escalation of fighting in the area.
"Yes, there is fighting in Yakawlang, and the Taliban have made some advancement," said the official who did not want to be named.
A private Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) in Pakistan said one Taliban soldier was killed and several others were wounded in fighting close to Yakawlang.
"The fighting is going on at Band-i-Amir, 15 kilometers (ten miles) northeast of Yakawlang," it said quoting an unnamed Taliban official.
The Hezb-e-Wahdat minority Shiite opposition group captured Yakawlang, to the west of Bamiyan city, on Monday – KABUL (AFP)
