The Taliban have captured Afghanistan's second biggest city of Kandahar, officials said on Friday, in the most significant setback for the US-backed government since the insurgents launched a new offensive as US forces withdraw.
"Following heavy clashes late last night the Taliban took control of Kandahar city," a local government official told Reuters after the militants announced they had taken it.
Government forces were still in control of Kandahar's airport, which was the US military's second biggest base in Afghanistan during their 20-year mission.
The Taliban also captured Lashkar Gah, capital of the Helmand province, and are mostly in control of the city of Herat.