At least 28 Taliban militants were killed in an infighting between two factions of the group in Herat province in the west of Afghanistan on Thursday, Herat governor’s spokesman Jailani Farhad confirmed on Friday.

Farhad said the clash happened on Thursday afternoon in Joi Qazi, Abdul Abad, Deh Mirza and Deh Aman villages in Shindand district in the province.

He said the fighting continued for many hours.

He said the infighting was between the Taliban factions of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada and Mullah Rasul.

He said that at least 18 fighters were killed from Mullah Hibatullah’s faction led by Mullah Samad and seven others were wounded.

Farhad said that government forces deployed to the area to suppress the militants and ensure security there.

According to him, Maj. Mateen, Operational Commander of the National Directorate of Security Unit in Herat was killed when he was hit by a bullet during the clashes.

The two factions of the Taliban have fought against each other many times which has left scores of them dead and wounded.

Taliban has not commented on the report so far.