135 Afghan Soldiers Killed In Taliban Attack On Army Base 

Mazar-i-Sharif: At least 135 Afghan soldiers were killed and 60 injured in a deadly attack by Taliban militants on an Afghan army base in Balkh province, an official said on Saturday

The attack lasted several hours but was over by early evening on Friday, according to the spokesman, who wished to remain anonymous. US General John Nicholson, commander of NATO's Resolute Support operation, said in a separate statement that the attack targeted "soldiers at prayer in a mosque and others in a dining facility" of the 209th Corps of the Afghan army.

The general, who did not give a toll, praised "the Afghan commandos who brought on Friday's atrocity to an end". Afghan defence ministry spokesman General Dawlat Waziri said gunmen wearing Afghan army uniforms had launched the attack on the army compound on the outskirts of Mazar-i- Sharif, capital of Balkh province.

"In total, there were 10 attackers involved in the attack on the Afghan army corps. Seven of them were killed, two blew themselves up, and one was detained by Afghan forces," Waziri said.

The Afghan general earlier gave a toll of eight soldiers killed and 11 wounded but said this would change.

In a statement the Taliban claimed responsibility for the operation. The last major attack against a military site dates back to early March, a coordinated hours-long assault on the country's main military hospital in Kabul.

Officials said around 135 people were killed in that attack, though credible sources said it was more than double that. That operation was claimed by the Islamic State group.