Taliban spacial forces, illustrative image
On August 1, the Taliban claimed that its fighters had breached the main defense line of the northwestern Afghan city of Herat.
Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, shared on Twitter a video showing fighters of the group in the outskirts of Heart. According to Mujahid, the fighters are now advancing inside the city.
د هرات ښار نواحي له دښمن څخه تصفیه شوي او مجاهدینو د ښار مرکزي سیمو ته پر مختګ کړی دی. pic.twitter.com/tDz5A6aTU3
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) August 1, 2021
#Taliban in #Herat city pic.twitter.com/9ueSyJSfe1
— Tariq Ghazniwal (@TGhazniwal) August 1, 2021
Earlier, the Afghan government sent large reinforcements of security forces to Herat in order to repel the Taliban’s attack, which began four days earlier.
Abdul Rahman Rahman, senior deputy of the Afghan Interior Ministry, revealed that government forces are preparing to launch a large-scale operation to push Taliban fighters away from Herat city.
“We have come with the security forces from Kabul and these forces have joined Herat forces,” the TOLO News quoted Rahman as saying. “We will act as soon as possible to defend the Herat people.”
At least 20 people were killed, including 16 security force members, and 90 people were wounded in the past four days of fighting in Herat.
A Gas station caught fire due to heavy clashes in the PD-2 of Herat city this evening. pic.twitter.com/KM1KzcRMRR
— Zoya 🚨 (@Zoya_nafidi) August 1, 2021
As for now, the Taliban has the upper hand in the battle of Herat. The situation may change in the upcoming few days, especially if the Afghan Air Force intervene.
The Taliban has been advancing on several fronts since April 14, when the US announced a plan to pull its troops out from Afghanistan before September 11. The group claims that it does not seek to take over the country by force, yet its moves on the ground suggest otherwise.
