LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) -- Afghan forces backed by airstrikes battled Monday to recapture a district center in the western province of Farah, after Taliban fighters seized the town in an overnight attack in which several policeman were killed, regional officials said.
Airstrikes had killed 56 insurgents, an Interior Ministry spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi said. Reinforcements had arrived in Anar Dara town and surrounded a group of Taliban fighters. Eight police, including the local police commander had been killed and several wounded, he added.