Afghanistan's Second And Third Largest Cities Have Fallen To The Taliban

AP: Taliban take Kandahar, Herat in major Afghanistan offensive

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban captured two major Afghan cities, the country’s second- and third-largest after Kabul, and a strategic provincial capital on Thursday, further squeezing the embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission in Afghanistan.

The seizure of Kandahar and Herat marks the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken 12 of Afghanistan’s 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong blitz.

The capture of the city of Ghazni, meanwhile, cuts off a crucial highway linking the Afghan capital, Kabul, with the country’s southern provinces, all part of an insurgent push some 20 years after U.S. and NATO troops invaded and ousted the Taliban government.

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WNU Editor: Reports that Kandahar has fallen have only been made in the past hour. This is a shock to everyone who has been following this conflict.

Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 12, 2021

Afghanistan Collapse Accelerates as 2 Vital Cities Near Fall to Taliban -- New York Times

Taliban Has Taken Kandahar, 12th Provincial Capital to Fall: Afghan Officials -- Bloomberg

Afghanistan: Major cities fall to Taliban amid heavy fighting -- BBC

Taliban take 10th Afghan provincial capital in blitz -- FOX News/AP

Taliban advance on major Afghan cities as U.S., UK troops to aid evacuations -- Reuters

Taliban take Ghazni in advance toward Kabul -- The Hill

Afghan Taliban Seize Herat, Move Into Kandahar After Taking Ghazni -- WSJ

Afghanistan: Taliban take control of Herat in major victory for militants -- DW

Taliban claims control over prisons in 2 chief Afghanistan cities -- FOX News

Ghazni province toppled, provincial governor is let go -- Khaama Press

Taliban seizes Afghan Army corps headquarters, 2 northern airports -- Long War Journal

US embassy calls on all American citizens to leave Afghanistan IMMEDIATELY, right after Taliban claims to capture 2nd largest city -- RT

Pentagon sends 3,000 troops BACK to Afghanistan to evacuate Americans and won't say whether US will stay past August 31: State Dept announces Kabul embassy drawdown as Taliban captures 12 cities -- Daily Mail

About 8,000 US troops are deploying to secure evacuations from Kabul -- Military Times/AP