TALIBAN SEIZE CAPITAL OF AFGHANISTAN’S NIMRUZ PROVINCE

Fri 06 August 2021:

The Taliban took control of the capital of Nimroz province near the Iranian border on Friday, the first such takeover since the group launched an operation to exploit the US troop withdrawal.

Videos circulating on social media showed Taliban fighters loitering near the open gates of the Nimroz governor’s residence and others sitting atop captured Humvees.

The militants reportedly seized control over Zaranj’s airport and the provincial administration building.

This is the first Afghan provincial capital that the Taliban managed to capture since 2016.

The images also show them in control of the military base, as well as Zaranj Airport. Taliban fighters were photographed outside the governor’s compound and the headquarters of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency.

#عاجل
نن ماسپښین د نیمروزولایت مرکز زرنج کې دولایت مقام، قومندانۍ او ګڼ نور تأسیسات دمجاهدینو لاس ته ولویدل او د پاتې ځایونو تصفیه روانه ده.
جزئیات وروسته pic.twitter.com/sp0FgCRw9b

— Ahmadi (@QyAhmadi21) August 6, 2021

Taliban insurgents inside Nimruz Police Headquarters. They’ve seized many Ranger trucks and Humvees. pic.twitter.com/bmXwjuOZ3Y

— Pedro 47 (@CombatJourno) August 6, 2021

The Taliban takeover of Zaranj is a major victory for the group, which is also battling for control of multiple other provincial capitals. Government forces are currently clinging to a cluster of buildings in the center of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, as the Taliban controls the rest of the city. The Taliban is in control of neighborhoods in Kandahar and Herat cities, and is launching frequent assaults in other capitals, such as Taluqan, Kunduz City, Ghazni City, Mitharlam, and Shiberghan.

Zaranj, which is on the border with Iran, is a major trade route and was a source of customs income for the Afghan government. The Taliban now operates four of the six major border crossings, and is collecting millions of dollars in revenue daily.

Twitter Image

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