The Taliban have captured Herat - Afghanistan's third-largest city and a strategic provincial capital near Kabul.
As security deteriorates in the country deteriorates amid rapid Taliban gains, the US said it would reduce personnel at its embassy in Kabul "to a core diplomatic presence" in the coming weeks - and that it would deploy additional troops at Kabul airport to pull out staff.
"In order to facilitate this reduction, the Department of Defence will temporarily deploy additional personnel to Hamid Karzai international airport", said State Department spokesperson Ned Price.
However, the US embassy remains open, he said.
US intelligence has warned that Kabul could fall within the next 90 days.
The capture of Herat marks the biggest prize yet for the Taliban. The group now has taken 11 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals, and
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Image: The Taliban's advance has meant the group has taken control of Ghazni, in the east
The battle for control of Lashkar Gah, west of Kandahar in Helmand Province, continues too - where the Taliban have captured a police headquarters.
Access roads to Kabul through nearby valleys were packed with civilians trying to get into the city amid the rapid gains made by the Taliban, but there are fears that suicide bombers and insurgents could be among them.
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On Wednesday, David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, warned the West not to take its eyes off Afghanistan as the Taliban's forces continue to make gains after British and US troops were withdrawn.
Mr Miliband said 5,000 civilians were killed in the most recent fighting, 30,000 people a week are fleeing the country, and 350,000 people are homeless.
He added the refugee danger is "real and present" to neighbouring states, with 100,000 leaving Afghanistan each month and going into Pakistan and Iran.
funksoldier83 on August 12nd, 2021 at 20:12 UTC »
Anyone who has served with conventional ANA troops can tell you how they would stack up to the Taliban. Let’s just say that for all the F’d up stuff the Taliban does, I don’t expect them to get super stoned on hashish during a guard shift and pass out in a pile of stolen food while on duty. Sucks because the non-Taliban-leaning populace deserves someone who can fight for them to carve out safe havens. But this was always going to be the result.
Fr06t on August 12nd, 2021 at 19:07 UTC »
It seems Kandahar too, though news sites aren't sure. More than one million people taken in just 1 day, if sources are to be trusted. ANA's been resting on its laurels for a while, but they have to act now.
KingofFairview on August 12nd, 2021 at 17:55 UTC »
SS
The Taliban have captured Herat, Afghanistan’s third biggest city. They have now seized 11 provincial capitals in as many days. Earlier today they captured the city of Ghazni. Some US analysts now think Kabul could fall in 90 days. Fighting has also broken out on the outskirts of Kandahar.