Afghanistan: Latest news from the Helmand front + Map

According to the latest news from Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, the Taliban have launched heavy attacks since October 11 to seize the town and its suburbs, including Nade Ali, Nawa and Nahre Siraj.
The Taliban have already pledged in a peace deal with the United States not to attack major cities in Afghanistan’s provinces, and the central government sees the Taliban as violating the agreement and the United States disregarding the agreement.

According to local sources, dozens of security forces and civilians have been killed and wounded in the clashes so far, and more than 300 Taliban fighters have been killed and wounded in airstrikes and clashes. The sources added that tens of thousands of families have been displaced as a result of Taliban attacks, and clashes still continue in the region.

According to the latest information released from the region, the Taliban managed to take control of Babaji, Bolan and security checkpoints in the fourth and fifth districts of Lashkar Gah in the first days of their attacks, and clashes are currently taking place in the seventh and eighth districts.

Helmand province is one of the southern provinces of Afghanistan with a population of nearly one million people and has become one of the most volatile areas in Afghanistan after the arrival of US and NATO forces. British forces are stationed at bases in the province and it is estimated that 60% of Afghanistan’s poppies are grown in Helmand.