Fall of Herat

Simultaneously with the withdrawal of most United States troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban had increased the intensity of their offensive in Afghanistan, taking at least 50 districts in May and June 2021. It seemed like the Taliban were capturing districts around provincial capitals, preparing to capture them once foreign forces left.[7] At the end of June 2021, the Italian military pulled out from a base by Herat, allegedly destroying military equipment and not leaving any for the Afghan National Army. At that time, control of Herat International Airport was also handed over to Afghan forces.[8] The last Italian troops arrived back in Italy late 29 June 2021.[9]

Fall of districts in Herat Province

In January 2019, SIGAR considered all but one district of Herat Province, Shindand District, to be either under government control or government influenced (between government control and contested).[10] On 11 June 2021, the Taliban claimed to have captured Farsi District to the southwest of the city.[11] 6 days later Obe District, which is directly north of Farsi District, fell to Herat's west.[12] By 6 July, Ghoryan District to Herat's east on the border with Iran was under Taliban control, along with Chishti Sharif District to the west.[13]

On 9 July, the Taliban captured eight districts of Herat Province and two major border towns, Islam Qala and TorghundiI, in a 24 hour period.[14] Islam Qala is 120 kilometres (75 mi) from Herat and is one of the main border crossings to Iran, bringing in 1.5 billion Afghani annually for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Soldiers fled to Iran for safety.[15] Torghundi is one of two border crossings to Turkmenistan. The eight districts captured were Karukh, Kohsan, Gulran, Kushki Kuhna, Kushk, Shindand, Adraskan, and Pashtun Zarghun. According to reports, five districts fell without a fight.[16] Zendeh Jan District, 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Herat, fell to the Taliban the day before. The attacks and captures of the districts only left 2 districts, Injil and Guzara, plus the city of Herat in government hands.[14] Karokh District was retaken on 23 July, but was only held for a week.[17] On 24 July, the government imposed a curfew for Herat Province and most of Afghanistan's other provinces.[18] Karokh district was retaken on 30 July.[19]

Map of the districts of Herat Province

Map of districts of Herat city

Fighting began in the city around 28 July.[24][25] The next day, fighting reached the Malan Bridge the day before, which crosses the Hari river about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of the city.[26][27]

The battle was intense on 30 July. The portion of the Kandahar–Herat Highway leading to the airport was under heavy attack. The United Nations office in Herat was also attacked by gunfire and grenades, killing a security guard and wounding others.[28][29] A Taliban spokesman released a statement saying the office had been caught in crossfire.[30] The commander of the 207th Corps was captured and killed on this day as well.[31] Due to the fighting, all flights were cancelled at Herat International Airport, located 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) south of the city.[26] Government forces were able to retake the road going to the airport by the afternoon of the next day.[32]

On 31 July the Malan Bridge was taken by the Taliban after two days of fighting.[31] The next day reporters for Pajhwok Afghan News were briefly taken captive but were quickly released.[6] On 2 August clashes occurred at least 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the city center between government aligned forces and the Taliban, mostly in districts 2, 3, 7, and 14.[lower-alpha 1][34] Heratis also chanted "Allahu akbar" ("God is Great") in the streets in support of the government and allied forces.[35][36] Two days later, August districts 2, 3, 10, and 11 were attacked by the Taliban.[lower-alpha 1] The police chief for district 10 was killed in the fighting.[37] The Taliban were successfully pushed out of the city.[38]

Residents reported that the Taliban were searching houses, looking for government workers, guns, and vehicles.[45] Two alleged looters were paraded through the streets as a warning the day after the Taliban captured the city.[46]

Ismail Khan was captured and put under house arrest.[47] According to a member of the provincial council, Khan, the provincial governor, and other officials were handed over as part of an agreement with the insurgents. The capture provided the Taliban with a strong symbol of fading resistance in Herat in addition to claiming that Khan had defected to their side.[48][49] According to sources close to him, on 16 August he left custody and went to Mashhad, Iran.[50]

A few days after the city fell, some government offices in the city including the electricity department had reopened without female employees.[51] Women also stayed off the streets and men wore more traditional Afghan clothing. On 18 August, girls returned to school.[52] The Taliban handed out hijabs and headscarves at the entrance to the school.[53]

Herat is Afghanistan's third largest city (with a population of at least two million), lies on important trade routes, and is an important entrance into Iran.[54] It is the largest city in Afghanistan's west, and partially because of that it is an economic hub.[21] Together with the capture of Lashkargah in the Battle of Lashkargah and the fall of Kandahar in the 2021 Battle of Kandahar, their captures were the most significant gains yet in the 2021 Taliban offensive.[55]

2021 Taliban offensive

• Capture of Zaranj
• Battle of Kunduz
• Battle of Kandahar
• Battle of Lashkargah
• Fall of Kabul

• Herat Province District Atlas