• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Politics
  4. The Taliban Seizes Three Major Afghan Cities
Politics

The Taliban Seizes Three Major Afghan Cities

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
  • 13 Aug 2021 08:50

The “Taliban” has captured the key city of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan, a day after the group claimed control over Kandahar and Herat, the country’s second and third largest cities.

  • "Taliban" seizes Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand Province

According to officials, today, Friday, “The Taliban have captured Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city, which represents the biggest setback for the US-backed government since the Movement launched a new offensive upon the withdrawal of US forces.

"The Taliban took control of Kandahar city after violent clashes late last night," a local government official told Reuters after declaring control of the city.

It is noteworthy that the government forces still control Kandahar airport, which was the second-largest base for the US military in Afghanistan.

In a related context, an Afghan security source announced that the Taliban Movement today also took control of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, after allowing the army, political, and administrative officials to leave the city.

"Lashkar Gah has been evacuated and they have decided a 48-hour ceasefire to evacuate the army and civilian officials," a senior security official told AFP. The Taliban had announced earlier that it had captured the city.

On Thursday, the Taliban militants took control of Herat, to the west, the third-largest Afghan city, and stood at 150 km away from Kabul after capturing Ghazni, southwest of the capital.

Within eight days, the Movement controlled about the capitals of half of the Afghan provinces. It now controls the greater part of the north, west, and south of the country. Only three major cities remain under the government's authority: the capital, Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, the largest city in the north, and Jalalabad.

As the events accelerated, Washington announced Thursday night that deploying 3,000 soldiers at Kabul International Airport to help evacuate US diplomats and citizens. London also announced sending 600 soldiers for the same goal.

It is worth mentioning that the frequency of confrontations between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants has escalated, coinciding with the start of the withdrawal of US and NATO forces in early May, which is scheduled to be completed by next September 11.

  • Taliban
  • Taliban movement
  • Afghanistan
  • US Forces

Trending Now

All
Biden to release $7billion in frozen reserves to aid Afghanistan

Biden to split $7 billion in frozen Afghan funds

Most Read

Haaretz

Mossad agent killed in Italy part of anti-Iran mission: Israeli media

  • Europe
  • 3 Jun
Screengrab from drone video footage showing Ukrainian Leopard tanks getting hit by Russian artillery in the Zaparozhye direction (Social media / Telegram: ZA_FROHT)

Germany's Leopards, IRIS-Ts not holding up well in Ukraine

  • Europe
  • 8 Jun
James G. Rickards. (WIkipedia)

Ex-CIA advisor predicts date when US dollar hegemony will collapse

  • Europe
  • 7 Jun
NATO may deploy troops in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

NATO states may deploy in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

  • Europe
  • 8 Jun

Read this

All
Swiss team to visit Lebanon in Salameh probe
MENA

Swiss team to visit Lebanon in Salameh probe

  • 8 Jun
Muslim worshippers gather for Friday prayers, next to the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city, Friday, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Palestine

'Israel' plans to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque compound between Muslims, Jews

  • 8 Jun
Germany's second largest refinery of BP in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)
Europe

Eurozone entered technical recession: EuroStat

  • 8 Jun
RFK Jr. says Pentagon hid Ukraine truth from Americans
US & Canada

RFK Jr. says Pentagon hid Ukraine truth from Americans

  • 8 Jun
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS