Over 100 Taliban militants killed in Afghan army airstrikes

Kabul/Washington: The international community has reacted sharply to the Taliban’s attack on the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Afghanistan’s Herat province, which claimed the life of one soldier. The United Nations has criticised the attack, calling it a violation of international law and a war crime. Also, the United States called for a ceasefire. Ignoring the call, the Taliban continued violence in Herat for the second day in a row. The Afghan army has killed more than 100 Taliban militants in its operation in Herat in the past 24 hours.

Afghan army

The Taliban have begun efforts to gain complete control of Herat province, which borders Iran to the west of Afghanistan. Out of the 17 districts in the province, the Afghan government controls the capital city of Herat and the Guzara district. However, the Taliban militants have stepped up attacks on Herat and Guzara over the past two days. The attacks have been met with a response from the Afghan army as well as local gangs. Nevertheless, there was a huge uproar after the attack on the UN‘s provincial headquarters building in Herat on Friday night.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has blamed the Taliban for violating international law by targeting a humanitarian aid building in Afghanistan. Guterres also warned that the acts might constitute war crimes. Furthermore, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan denounced the incident in Herat. Sullivan also called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to work together to reduce violence in Afghanistan and resume negotiations.

The Taliban has imposed its laws in other parts of Afghanistan and strict restrictions on girls and women. It does not seem to have heeded the US call. According to Afghan media reports, the Taliban have intensified their attacks on Herat since Saturday morning to seize control. The Taliban have taken control of the area near the Malan Bridge and claimed to have killed a senior Afghan army commander.

In the last 24 hours, the Afghan army has launched a comprehensive security operation in Herat, Guzara and Gulran districts. The Afghan Air Force killed more than 100 militants in operation in Guzara. If the Taliban seizes control of Guzara, the capital Herat is feared to also collapse. In addition, the Afghan army airstrikes in the country’s northern Jawzjan province left 21 militants dead.

Meanwhile, Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh issued a warning aimed at Taliban supporters. Vice President Saleh targeted the Pakistani military, saying the Afghan army and people would not bow to the Taliban or their supporters.

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