The U.S. military and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) have launched two raids against Al Qaeda’s network in Helmand and Nimroz province over the past several days, killing at least eight operatives and capturing three more. The Taliban continues to maintain that Al Qaeda does not have a presence in Afghanistan, despite multiple raids against the terror group.

A car bomb exploded near the Daman district police HQ and the governor’s compound in southern Kandahar, wounding over 30 people–and at least 22 civilians–and the police chief, local officials said.