The Afghan army has ended a Taliban attack on one of its bases that killed at least 70 soldiers, according to military officials.

Fighting lasted several hours in the northern Balkh province.

An army spokesman said the insurgents targeted those leaving Friday prayers at the base’s mosque, as well as others in a canteen.

The Taliban claimed the attack in a statement, and said they used suicide bombers to breach the defences.

At least 10 Taliban militants were killed in the fighting at the military headquarters in the town of Mazar-e-Sharif.

One assailant has been detained, according to AFP news agency.

The Taliban fighters wore army uniforms and drove through military checkpoints before launching the raid, a military spokesman said.

U.S. military spokesman John Thomas described the attack as a “significant” strike, but he praised the Afghan commandos for bringing the “atrocity to an end”.

The base at Mazar-e-Sharif is home to the Afghan National Army’s 209th Corps, responsible for providing security to most of northern Afghanistan, including Kunduz province – which has seen heavy recent fighting.

Several German and other foreign soldiers are reported to be garrisoned there.

Last month about 50 people were reported to have died when militants believed to be from the group known as Islamic State targeted patients and staff at a military hospital in Kabul with guns, grenades and knives.

Also in March the Taliban said they had captured the crucial south Afghan district of Sangin after a year-long battle.

Source: BBC