IS firing on Taliban commander's house kills 15 in N. Afghanistan

SARI PUL, Afghanistan - At least 15 people were killed and five others injured after the Islamic State (IS) militants opened fire on the house of a Taliban commander in northern Sari Pul province on Tuesday, provincial government spokesman Zabihullah Amani said.

"Two militants loyal to the hardliner IS group disguised themselves as villagers and entered the house of Taliban commander Mullah Ghazanfar and shadow district chief for Sayyad district this morning to express their condolences over the loss of Taliban fighters who lost their lives in fighting against the rival IS outfit but suddenly opened fire, killing 15 people on the spot and made good their escape," Amani told Xinhua.

Five more people sustained injuries in the attack, the official said.

Taliban and the rival IS group have been fighting in Darzab and Qush Tipa districts of the neighboring Jawzjan province over the past week which has left scores of militants dead from both sides.

The Taliban militants, according to locals, besides killing and capturing several IS fighters have also captured and killed three women who used to fight alongside IS militants.

Neither Taliban nor IS outfit has made comments on the clashes.