Airstrikes pummel Taliban in south; insurgents gain in north

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan air force carried out more airstrikes against Taliban positions in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, as the insurgent force made additional gains in the country’s north.

A defense ministry statement said airstrikes were carried out across the country, including in the southern Helmand province, where the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah is being fiercely contested. The Taliban control nine of the city’s 10 police districts.

Residents in Lashkar Gah reported heavy bombing near the government radio and television station, which is under Taliban control. Several wedding halls and a guesthouse of the provincial governor’s are all located near the radio and television station.

Dr. Sher Ali Shaker, head of Helmand’s public health department said that in the past 24 hours at least three civilians were killed and 40 more including women and children were wounded during battles in Lashkar Gah city.

In northern Afghanistan, the Taliban took control of most of the provincial capital of Sar-e-Pul, the head of its council, Mohammad Noor Rahmani said.

Meanwhile, Jawzjan province in the north remains under a three-month Taliban attack, with most of it’s districts having surrendered to the Taliban without a fight.