Nasratullah Yemen, a commander of the ANA 209 Shaheen Corps, was killed in a mortar attack that wounded four others in the northern province of Balkh on Thursday morning, said local military officials. 

The incident happened in Alamkhil village in Balkh district (of Balkh province) this morning, said Mohammad Haneef Rezaee, a spokesman for 209 Shaheen Corps.  

“The incident happened during a search operation in Alamkhil village and a mortar landed in the area,” Rezaee said, adding that “four other ANA soldiers were wounded.” 

To respond, “the army will launch a clearing operation in the area,” he said. 

However, no group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.