Taliban forces overran Sangin district in the province on Thursday. In a flurry of events Wednesday, Afghan army and police units withdrew from the center of Sangin District in Helmand Province, taking their equipment with them and potentially allowing Taliban forces to enter, according to tribal leaders, military officials and a Taliban spokesman. Afghan and U.S. military officials denied news reports that Sangin had fallen to Taliban insurgents, as did provincial officials. The Afghan defense ministry spokesman, Gen. Dawlat Waziri, confirmed that the Afghan army battalion stationed in Sangin was still based inside the district. The U.S. also sent contingents of Marines into Helmand and conducted air strikes there last year to bolster Afghan forces.

Source: Washington Post March 23, 2017 08:59 UTC