Wall Street Journal: Taliban Seize Kandahar, Prepare to March on Afghan Capital Kabul
Takeovers give insurgents full control of southern and western Afghanistan
ABUL—The Taliban completed the seizure of Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city and the Islamist movement’s birthplace, and took into custody a warlord who organized the failed defenses of the western city of Herat.
Combined with other advances, including the capture of the provincial capital of Helmand, the fall of these two major cities has given the Taliban full control of southern and western Afghanistan, allowing the insurgent movement to pool its forces for a final march on Kabul.
The U.S. has already launched the drawdown of its large embassy in Kabul, sending troops to evacuate most of the staff as it cuts the diplomatic presence to an essential core.
Other Western embassies are readying similar plans, fearing that the Taliban could lay siege to the Afghan capital within days.
Commercial flights from Kabul were booked solid, with expatriates and Afghans holding visas for foreign countries attempting to leave.
Tens of thousands of people escaping the Taliban’s advances in the provinces, meanwhile, flocked into the Afghan capital, sleeping in city parks and mosques.
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Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 13, 2021
Afghanistan: Taliban press on after seizing key cities — live updates -- DW
Taliban tighten grip on Afghanistan as all eyes turn to capital Kabul -- France 24
Taliban sweep across Afghanistan’s south; take 4 more cities -- AP
Taliban tighten grip on Afghanistan as all eyes turn to capital Kabul -- Reuters
Taliban seize four more provincial capitals in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
Taliban capture two major cities, tightening insurgent grip on Afghanistan -- France 24
Taliban reportedly just 50km from Kabul as militant group takes Logar province -- RT
Taliban captures half of Afghanistan's provincial capitals as insurgents near the capital Kabul -- ABC News Australia
Taliban insurgents take Kandahar, Herat as US plans to evacuate Americans from embassy in Kabul -- FOX News
The Taliban now control half of Afghanistan’s provincial capitals -- CNN
Taliban captures Afghan commander Ismail Khan after fall of Herat -- Al Jazeera
Afghanistan: Panic and disbelief as thousands flee Taliban onslaught -- BBC
