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Taliban capture two key cities in Afghan blitz as U.S. withdraws
The Taliban captured Kandahar and Herat, Afghanistan's second- and third-largest cities after Kabul, in a major offensive Thursday.
International
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban captured two major Afghan cities on Friday, according to the militant group and local officials, as vital hubs across the country collapsed and the United States rushed to evacuate its citizens.
The seizure of Kandahar in the south and Herat in the west mark the biggest prizes yet for the Taliban, who have taken a series of provincial capitals in a major blitz as U.S. troops pull out after two decades of war.
A Taliban spokesman told NBC News the group's fighters had taken both cities, capitals of their respective provinces by the same name.
Gul Ahmad Kamin, a member of parliament from Kandahar, confirmed to NBC News early Friday that the city had fallen.
In Herat, local member of parliament Masood Karokhai said the Taliban had taken control of the city after launching an offensive from various locations. He said the region's airport and military base outside the city were still controlled by government forces.