WASHINGTON (AP) — There has been a big spike recently in the number of Afghan forces, particularly police, who are being killed and wounded in battle due to increased Taliban attacks in the south and east, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan said Thursday.

But Army Gen. John Campbell said that despite the casualties, the Afghan forces have eventually been able to retake any terrain captured by the Taliban, including in Helmand province where fighting has been intense in recent days. He said that overall this year there have been 7,000-9,000 Afghans wounded or killed, which is a bit higher than the totals so far for last year.