An anti-Taliban group briefly seized control of Yaftal-e-Paeen district in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province early Friday before withdrawing several hours later, local sources told Amu TV.
Two local sources said dozens of anti-Taliban fighters attacked the district headquarters at around 2 a.m., disarmed Taliban forces and temporarily took control of the district administration.
According to the sources, the fighters identified themselves as a newly formed group calling itself “Sepahian-e Mihan” (Soldiers of the Homeland) and raised the group’s flag over the district administration building during the takeover.
The sources said the fighters later withdrew from the district. It was not immediately clear where they went or whether there were any casualties.
Taliban have not publicly commented on the reported attack.
The incident would mark the first known instance in nearly five years in which an Afghan district temporarily fell outside Taliban control since they returned to power in August 2021.
