Taliban Take Three Provincial Capitals in One Day

The Taliban took three provincial capitals on August 8 and one on August 9. The Taliban raised their flag over a police booth in Kunduz, where one official said that the Afghan forces only control the airport and main army barracks. Officials in Kabul deny that the Taliban is in control and stated that forces are working to take back parts of the city.

In Washington, senior officials from the White House National Security Council, State Department and Defense Department were in close contact with U.S. embassy officials in Kabul assessing the broader impact of the fall of Kunduz, according to a senior administration official. The official was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

But the official indicated that the Biden administration remains determined to stick to its plan to end the U.S. war in Afghanistan by the end of the month despite the Taliban’s rapid strategic gains.

White House officials in recent days have raised concern about reports of retaliation against civilians in Taliban-controlled areas. They’ve also condemned last week’s killing of Dawa Khan Menapal, the chief of the Afghan government’s press operations for local and foreign media, and a bombing that targeted acting Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, killing eight and wounding more.

AP

The Taliban released about 500 prisoners from the prison in Kunduz when they arrived. The city is a strategic one for the Talban, at about 200 miles from Kabul. US/NATO forces forced them out at least twice over the course of the Afghanistan war.

The cities of Taleqan and Sar-e-Pul also fell to the terrorist group. Lashkar Gah, is continually under attack and most of the city has fallen to the Taliban. They have taken over at least 9 of the 10 police districts, according to Stripes. Lashkar Gah is the provincial capitol of Helmund Province. US air strikes have still targeted Taliban position in that city. Some of the last strikes were said to have damaged a health clinic and a high school where the insurgents had taken control.

The city of Kandahar remains under siege from the terrorist group. Jawzjan province was another victim of the Taliban offensive over the weekend.

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US Military Leadership: ”it is not inevitable that the Taliban will take over Afghanistan.”

”And I would ask these leaders, please, never send our sons and daughters into a war again you don’t intend to win.”

Gold Star Father Bill Vaughn, whose son died in Extortion 17