Battle of Farah

Battle of Farah
Part of the Afghan War
Location of Farah, Afghanistan
Date 14–16 May 2018 Location Farah, Farah Province, Afghanistan 32°20′37″N 62°7′10″E / 32.34361°N 62.11944°E / 32.34361; 62.11944 Result Afghan government victory and recapture of Farah
Belligerents
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Supported by: Resolute Support Mission United States	Taliban
Commanders and leaders
Ashraf Ghani (President of Afghanistan)	Hibatullah Akhundzada (Supreme Commander)
Strength
	Hundreds
Casualties and losses
25 killed^[1] 63 killed (Taliban claim)	300 killed^[1] 9 killed, 11 injured (Taliban claim) ^[2]
5 civilians killed^[1]

The Battle of Farah began on 14 May 2018, when Taliban fighters launched an assault on the city of Farah, located in western Afghanistan.

Background

In the months prior to the assault on the city itself, the Taliban had captured much of Afghanistan's Farah province, with fighting intensifying as a result of the group's Al Khandaq spring offensive, named after the Battle of the Trench in which the Islamic prophet Muhammad led a decisive Muslim victory against Arab and Jewish tribes.^{[citation needed]}

Battle

The Taliban began its assault on the city on 14 May 2018, using captured Humvees and Afghan police trucks to attack and overrun checkpoints and government buildings in Farah.^[3][4] Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid released photos of Taliban fighters in the city's central square, indicating Taliban control of Farah.^[5] Reports surfaced of the Taliban freeing hundreds of prisoners from Farah Prison.^[6] The Afghan government swiftly responded by sending reinforcements to the city. Afghan Airforce helicopters and American A-10 Warthog attack aircraft launched airstrikes on Taliban positions in Farah.^[7][4]

On 16 May, government security forces backed by U.S. air support reasserted control over Farah after driving the Taliban out of the city center. The security forces then conducted a clearing operation. Abdul Basir Salangi, governor of Farah province, said that the clashes left at least 25 members of the government security forces and five civilians dead, and at least 300 Taliban fighters were also killed.^[1]

References

1. Taliban abandons effort to capture Farah city. al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
2. "Zabihulla-M on Twitter: "#Farah - Mujahidin took over most regime compounds inside city - Objective was to crush enemy (63 killed) & seize military equipment, both successfully achieved - Mujahidin withdrew without problems - Only 9 Mujahidin martyred & 11 injured"". Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
3. "Taliban launches coordinated assault on Farah City - FDD's Long War Journal". 15 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
4. "Afghan Forces, Taliban Battling In Farah City". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
5. "Zabihulla-M on Twitter: "Youth of #Farah city celebrate arrival of Mu…". 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
6. "Reports of Farah prison being overrun by Taliban. Hundreds of prisoners reportedly freed. - Afghanistan news map - security alerts from Afghanistan - afghanistan.liveuamap.com". Afghanistan news map - security alerts from Afghanistan - afghanistan.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
7. Sukhanyar, Jawad; Nordland, Rod (15 May 2018). "Taliban Claim They've Taken Control of Western Afghan City, Farah". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 May 2018.