US drone strike kills 52 Daesh fighters in Afghanistan

By Zabihullah Tamanna

KABUL

A U.S. drone strike has killed at least 52 purported Daesh fighters in Afghanistan, in the largest single attack on the group since the beginning of a U.S. campaign early this week. 

The strike on Wednesday targeted fighters who claim to represent the Syria-based group in the eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Afghan eastern army command on Thursday. 

"U.S.-led coalition forces' drone strike in Tangi locality of Deh Bala district has killed at least 52 Daesh fighters," it said. 

The U.S. military has begun a string of air strikes against Daesh fighters in Nangarhar after the group announced its presence in the province last year.

On Tuesday, at least 49 Daesh fighters were killed in two separate drone strikes in the province as they were preparing to attack rival Taliban militants.

There have been a string of violent clashes between the two groups, especially in Nangarhar province where so-called Daesh fighters have managed to push the Taliban out of two districts in recent months.

They have also reportedly taken control of parts of five districts in Nangarhar, according to an Afghan official, and established contact with the Daesh leadership in Syria.

The group's fighters are thought to be former Taliban fighters who have rebranded themselves following the territorial victories won by Daesh in Iraq and Syria in the past year.