The Taliban already controls a large portions of Helmand Province, and
looks to have gained so more with a major offensive this weekend in
Sangin Province. At least 65 Afghan soldiers were reported killed, and 38 others wounded.
The attacks started with the Taliban pushing into Sangin and hitting a
number of security outposts. Such offensives are not unusual. This time,
however, the rush of Afghan reinforcements that usually return the
status quo were met and ambushed.
Between the offensive and the ambush, a local senator reported 65 troops
were killed, and 48 of them were from the Afghan NAtional Army. This
was as of Sunday evening, and he said fighting was still ongoing at the
time.
Helmand is an extremely valuable province for the Taliban because of its
ties to opium smuggling. Despite heavy commitment to try to keep the
Taliban from taking the area, they have been making consistent gains and
now control all but the capital district.
A better headline:
Taliban Kill Dozens of Afghan Army Collaborators.