Afghan officials: Taliban attacks kill 4 troops, 4 women

An Afghan official says the Taliban attacked a military checkpoint in western Farah province, killing four troops and wounding six.

Mohammad Naser Mehri, the provincial governor's spokesman, says the attack started late on Monday night and lasted into Tuesday morning in Bala Buluk district.

Mehri says the Afghan air force was called in and airstrikes later killed 19 Taliban fighters and wounded 30.

Separately, four women were killed and four children were wounded in the crossfire during a shootout between insurgents and the army in eastern Logar province.

Hasibullah Stanikzai, a provincial council member, says the shootout took place on Monday afternoon near Puli Alim, the provincial capital.

There was no immediate comment on either attack from the Taliban, who have stepped up their assaults across Afghanistan in recent months.