Heavy Fighting in Northern Afghanistan, 180 Killed in Past 24 Hours

Taliban contesting dozens of districts in Badakhshan

Last weekend Afghanistan saw some of the heaviest fighting in years. The trend is continuing Thursday, with 100 Taliban and 80 soldiers reported killed in the latest statements over the past 24 hours, and the Badakhshan Province has erupted in violence.

Badakhshan is the furthest northeast part of Afghanistan, bordering China. More than a dozen districts are suddenly being contested there alone, and 70 districts are now seeing fighting nationwide. The Taliban have been hitting several districts, with security forces in some in open retreat, while security in others is being redeployed to try to help evacuate schools, district centers, and other places where many people have become trapped.

Meanwhile, the Taliban hit Badghis Province, capturing nearly 100 members of security forces in Abkmari District. This group surrendered, giving the Taliban a large cache of arms and two Humvees. Provincial officials say that the checkpoints in the area evacuated without resistance.

Baghlan Province saw 10 troops killed in a car bombing, with 10 others wounded. This explosion happened near a major Afghan National Army post in the area.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.