Afghanistan: intense fighting between Taliban and government forces near Herat
Self-defense militias fighting the Taliban in the suburbs of Herat, July 10, 2021. REUTERS - JALIL AHMAD
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3 min
Fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces continues for the third day in a row on the outskirts of Herat, the country's third largest city in western Afghanistan.
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With our correspondent in Kabul,
Sonia Ghezali
Afghan security forces and self-defense militias fight the Taliban in the suburbs of Herat.
The 75-year-old former warlord of western Afghanistan, Ismail Khan, is on the front line with his men.
Videos of the man who was also governor of the large city in western Afghanistan, recognizable by his long white beard, are circulating on social networks.
He is seen running at a walk, a bulletproof vest over his immaculate traditional Afghan outfit, surrounded by militiamen armed with Kalashnikovs.
Commercial flights have been suspended due to fighting near the airport.
Only military planes continue to fly.
Many families have fled their homes in districts where fighting is raging.
They found refuge in the provincial capital where the population witnessed the frightened encirclement of the city by the
Taliban who increased
their pressure.
In the south of the country, in the provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, the insurgents follow the same strategy, gaining ground every day.
One month before the total withdrawal of foreign troops, the Taliban are showing no signs of supporting the
peace process
.
On Friday, the
United Nations
offices
in Herat
were hit by rockets launched by insurgents.
An Afghan policeman was killed.
The United Nations and the United States strongly condemned this attack.
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To listen and read also: In Afghanistan, popular mobilization against the Taliban
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Afghanistan
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