4 hours agoTaliban in 3 hours take first regional capital at Iran's border
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)The Taliban recently took control of a provincial capital, as calls by local security forces for reinforcements came to deaf ears. This victory of the Taliban is being described as a serious blow to the Western-backed government. Zaranj, a city that lies in the southwestern province of Nimroz, on the border with Iran, fell to [...]
Zaranj, a city located in the southwestern province of Nimroz, at the border of Iran, fell to the Taliban only after three hours of fighting, becoming the first provincial capital to come under the control of the militant group, which has intensified attacks throughout the country after the withdrawal of foreign troops.
Late Friday, heavily armed Taliban fighters, driving stolen Humvee vehicles, were patrolling the streets of Nimrozi, one of Afghanistan's main financial centres. The Taliban even announced hours at night in this country.
No part of the entire Nimroz province is under government control, the Taliban have taken it all. Security forces have either fled to other provinces, or were handed over to the Taliban”, a local official said.
City officials near the border with Iran said government forces had called for reinforcements for more than a week, but their appeal had not been answered, writes The Guardian.
Some 3,000 people fled to Iran before the neighboring state closed the border with the Afghan province, according to residents. Locals with any ties to the government are hiding, fearing revenge attacks by the Taliban.
