Families flee as Taliban battle Islamic State in northern Afghanistan

MAZAR-I SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Battles between Taliban and Islamic State fighters in a remote district of Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan have caused heavy casualties and displaced thousands of people in recent days, officials said on Friday.

Islamic State and Taliban militants are fighting each other in several northern provinces. On Tuesday, IS fighters attacked the house of a Taliban commander in Sar-e Pul province, killing at least 15 people at a prayer ceremony.