Government Forces, Taliban Battling In Farah City In Western Afghanistan

Afghan and NATO warplanes bombed Taliban positions after insurgents attacked Farah city, the capital of Farah Province in western Afghanistan, close to the Iranian border, Afghan officials say. The attack -- the first major assault targeting a provincial capital since the Taliban announced its annual spring offensive -- began when several security checkpoints were overrun after midnight, with the militants capturing one urban district and parts of another, according to provincial council member Jamila Amini.