An Afghan official says a drone strike killed 12 Taliban fighters in a volatile district bordering Pakistan.
Ahmad Zai Abdulzai, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, said today the dead included three Afghans and nine foreigners, usually a reference to Pakistanis.
The strike late yesterday took place in Khogyani district, where insurgents have been active for months. Abdulzai says the Taliban's shadow governor for the district was among the dead.
The region is also known for the presence of fighters loyal to the Islamic State group, who have fought with Taliban and government forces this year.
Abdulzai says 150 IS fighters were killed or wounded during a two-week military operation to clear them from the Achin district. He says checkpoints have been established to ensure they do not return.
