Heavy clashes are ongoing close to Khum Aab district governor's compound in the northern Jawzjan province, local security officials confirmed on Monday. 
  
The clashes started on Monday morning when dozens of Taliban fighters attacked security forces' outposts in Khum Aab district, local officials said.

Army media officer in the north, Nasratullah Jamshidi, said heavy clashes are ongoing between government forces and the Taliban and that reinforcements have been sent to the area.  

Airstrikes continue to target Taliban strongholds in the district, Jamishid said.  

Meanwhile, Jawzjan police chief Ramatullah Turkestani told TOLOnews that Taliban has captured some villages close to the district's center.  

He said public uprising forces who were responsible for security of seven villages in the district have left their outposts and have gone to the district's center.

Turkestani said that Mawlawi Majid, Taliban’s designated district governor for Aqcha district in Jawzjan, and another 20 militants from Aqcha, have came to Khum Aab to help other fighters in the war.