Taliban strengthens grip on the south as Kandahar and Lashkar Gah fall

The Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan’s second-largest city as their forces captured the city of Kandahar, along with Lashkar Gar in Helmand Province as they strengthen their grip on the south.

Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban movement and is the 12th provincial capital out of the country’s 34 that they have seized in their week-long campaign.

Officials there say that the city fell on Thursday night but that government officials made it to their airport before fleeing to safety.