U.S. NATO forces join Afghan effort to oust Taliban from Helmand
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 August 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. NATO forces join Afghan effort to oust Taliban from Helmand, 28 August 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55ee973b10.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 28, 2015
NATO and U.S. forces joined an Afghan army campaign August 27 to try to stop a Taliban advance in southern Afghanistan.
Nearly 14 years after the U.S. invasion that toppled the Taliban regime, the militant group is making gains. On August 26, the Musa Qala district in Helmand province fell to the Taliban for the first time since 2007.
"The deputy defense minister is in Helmand right now, and an operation is ongoing in full force to retake the district," said Dawlat Waziri, an Afghan defense ministry spokesman.
NATO's Resolute Support coalition said U.S. aircraft had dropped bombs on Musa Qala nine times August 27, and that some foreign soldiers were helping on the ground.
The fall of Musa Qala comes shortly after the Taliban grabbed the neighboring district of Nawzad. Combined with a third district to the north, the Taliban now sit on a big chunk of Helmand, controlling lucrative opium production and major routes into Iran and Pakistan used to smuggle heroin to Europe.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
