You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Afghanistan
Daily Evacuation Brief April 5, 2023
2023-04-05
[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
  • MAJOR COMBAT OPERATION IN NIMRUZ – Early reports suggested that a relatively small security operation had been carried out in Zaranj, Nimruz on Monday night. However, follow-up reporting arrived with video and audio files that confirmed a major battle occurred and appears to have stretched into Tuesday. The Taliban have claimed they faced off against ISIS-K but additional information indicates that former members of the Afghan Army were involved. Many casualties on both sides have been claimed with as many as 40 dead or wounded Taliban and 10 dead on the other side. Several arrests were reported as well but these have yet to be confirmed. Air assets were employed to MEDEVAC some of the Taliban wounded. Our initial analysis suggests the battle is the largest confrontation the Taliban have faced in 2023 so far.

  • BLAST REPORTED NEAR THE AIRPORT IN KABUL – Multiple sources reported a blast in Police District 9 (near the airport) at approximately 2000hrs local. The roads leading to the airport have had significantly increased Taliban traffic but details about the explosion are not clear and it may have been due to an accident.

  • THE UN IMPASSE – The United Nations ordered its staff to remain at home for the next two days while it attempts to unravel a Taliban order that was issued on Tuesday that bars female employees from working on various humanitarian projects. Women staff members were actively barred from entering offices in Eastern Nangarhar early on Tuesday morning. UN officials have said they have not received a copy of the order and are asking for clarification from the Taliban. All staff have been ordered to remain at home (both male and female). If the situation is resolved, UN offices would likely reopen on Sunday at the earliest due to the weekend. A Taliban decree issued in December 2022 banned women from working for foreign and domestic NGOs but has largely been selectively enforced.


CONFLICT TRACKER
Nimruz: The Taliban claim to have carried out a counter-ISIS-K mission in Zaranj late yesterday evening, The intense fighting lasted fir over an hour and several arrests were made. Sources say the Taliban suffered 3-14 dead and 18 injured, while eyewitnesses say approximately 10 gunmen were killed. It is not clear if the clash actually involved ISIS-K or former Afghan Army personnel. Radio intercepts of the Taliban operation dispute the official claims as well.
Balkh: A Taliban spokesman announced that last night’s raid in the province has resulted in the death of 6 ISIS-K terrorists. No details were provided and some are skeptical of claims that the dead were IIS-K. An accurate count of Taliban casualties was not provided.

NEXT 24 HOURS
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES SUFFERED IN NIMRUZ, ADDITIONAL SECURITY OPERATIONS ARE EXTREMELY LIKELY – It is not clear who or how many combatants the Taliban may have squared off against on Monday and Tuesday in Nimruz, but we have confirmed that many casualties resulted from the fray. There are reports that additional Taliban units have been ordered to Zaranj and that even border security forces were being stripped to respond to the threat. At-risk Afghans in Zaranj and across the Province will see significantly reinforced Taliban units on roadways and in the air. After having lost so many of their comrades, it is possible they may seek to take vengeance on non-combatants. The Province has not been a habitual battleground for ISIS-K or the Resistance and the bulk of the Taliban deployed in the area are considered to be inexperienced. Historically, inexperienced fighters have a tendency to overreact and such actions can cause collateral damage. We recommend that at-risk Afghans shelter in place until the situation becomes clearer.
Posted by:trailing wife

00:00