More than 200 Taliban fighters have been killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan, according to the country’s defense ministry. The airstrikes targeted a Taliban base in Sheberghan, the capital of Jawzjan province.
Fawad Aman, a senior official in the ministry, said in a tweet that “more than 200 Taliban terrorists have been killed in airstrikes in the town of Sheberghan.” Several of their hideouts have been destroyed.
The air attack from B-52 fighter jet destroyed a huge stock of ammunition and vehicles also has been claimed.
The Afghan army has stepped up its attacks since Saturday evening. They have begun to find and destroy the Taliban’s hideouts. The U.S. Air Force has joined the government forces. The airstrikes came shortly after the Taliban took control of the strategically important town of Sheberghan in Jawzjan province.
Earlier, it was reported that Taliban fighters had captured the second provincial capital in Afghanistan within 24 hours. Sheberghan took control of the town on Saturday after a week-long battle with government forces, Afghan media reported. It is the second provincial capital to fall to the Taliban. Earlier in the day, Taliban fighters seized Zaranj, the provincial capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran.
After nearly two decades of conflict, Taliban fighters began a major offensive during the withdrawal of US-led international forces. They have already taken control of most of the country. The Taliban now control large swathes of rural areas. They have taken control of most of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. It has cornered government forces in various cities, including Herat and Kandahar.
