Fall of Herat

Fall of Herat
Part of 2021 Taliban offensive
2021 Taliban Offensive (Herat) 7 Aug
Situation on 7 August
Pink: Controlled by the government
Grey: Controlled by the Taliban
Green: Unclear
Date28 July – 13 August 2021
Location34°20′31″N 62°12′11″E / 34.34194°N 62.20306°E / 34.34194; 62.20306
Result

Taliban victory

  • Surrender of Afghan National Army's 207th Corps
Belligerents
 Taliban  Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Abdul-Qayum Rauhani[1]
(Taliban commander)
Abdul-Karim Jihadyar[1]
(Taliban commander)
Abdul-Aziz Ansari[1]
(Taliban commander)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ismail Khan Surrendered[2]
(Former Governor of Herat)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdul Sabur Qaneh Surrendered[3]
(Governor of Herat)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdul Rahman Rahman Surrendered[2][3]
(Deputy interior minister of Herat)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Kamran Alizai Surrendered[4]
(Herat Provincial Council Chairman)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hasib Sediqi Surrendered[2][3]
(NDS Chief for Herat)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Khyal Nabi Ahmadzai Surrendered[2][3]
(207th Corps Commander)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Colonel Abdul Hamid [5]
(Commander of 1st regiment)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Colonel Mohammad Nasir Alizai[6]
(Commander of a Commando unit)
Units involved
Taliban forces

Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)

National Directorate of Security (NDS)
Public uprising forces
Casualties and losses
Unknown Thousands of government forces surrendered[2]
Fall of Herat is located in Afghanistan
Fall of Herat
Location within Afghanistan

The Fall of Herat was a battle and subsequent capture of Herat by Taliban fighters. The attack on the city started around 28 July 2021, and ended in Taliban victory by 13 August of the same year. Several of the surrounding districts fell to the Taliban from June to mid-July, leaving only the city and two other districts in government hands by 10 July. The border crossings in Herat Province were captured by the Taliban on 9 July, raising prices of goods inside the city. Ismail Khan, former governor and warlord, led a public uprising force to assist the Afghan National Security Forces in defending the city.

After fighting started in the city around the end of July, the Taliban launched a significant attack on 30 July, shutting down the Herat International Airport and temporarily taking the road leading to the airport. A few days later, some Heratis chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) in support of the government forces. The Taliban insurgents launched another significant attack on the city on 12 August, taking the city by night after a two-week siege. Fall of the city forced Ismail Khan and other top government officials to retreat to the provincial airport and the army corps headquarters outside the city. The next day Ismail Khan and other senior security officials including a deputy for the interior ministry, an army corps commander and an intelligence director, along with thousands of government forces, surrendered to the Taliban.[2]

  1. ^ a b c Moiz, Ibrahim (5 October 2021). "How the Afghan Taliban achieved their takeover of Afghanistan". The Express Tribune.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Hassan, Sharif (13 August 2021). "An Afghan warlord who steadfastly resisted the Taliban surrendered. Others may follow his lead". The New York Times. Mr. Khan and senior security officials including a deputy for the interior ministry, an army corps commander and an intelligence director, along with thousands of government forces, surrendered to the Taliban this morning.
  3. ^ a b c d Multiple References:
  4. ^ "آخرین تحولات افغانستان؛ لشکر ۲۰۷ ظفر به طالبان تسلیم شد". IRNA (in Persian). 13 August 2021.
  5. ^ Rahimi, Zahra (2 August 2021). "Justice Minister Accuses Taliban of War Crimes". TOLOnews.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference commandercommando was invoked but never defined (see the help page).