The Taliban have abandoned their former stronghold of Musa Qala in northern Helmand province. Despite boasts of over 2,000 fighters in the ranks and claims the “it will be very easy for us to resist the attack,” the Taliban chose to bug out. A Taliban spokesman claimed they fled to protect the residents of Musa Qala, while a resident of the town said they pulled out in an organized fashion.
The Taliban have repeatedly been beaten in open combat when fighting Afghan and NATO forces. Arrayed against the Taliban in Musa Qala was an Afghan Army brigade, a battalion of U.S. soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, elements from the British 40 Commando Royal Marines Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, the Scots Guards, and Danish forces. Fighting has been reported to be ongoing at the outskirts of town as the Taliban is fleeing northward. At least two local Taliban leaders were captured during the assault, and a senior weapons facilitator was killed in an airstrike. It is unclear if NATO airpower is striking at Taliban columns as they withdraw, or if the Afghans cut a deal to allow the Taliban to flee in exchange for taking the city without a fight. In the neighboring district of Sangin in Helmand province, the Taliban publicly hanged a 12-year-old boy for “spying” for the British. In Kandahar province, Canadian and Afghan forces killed 31 Taliban and captured eight in the Panjwai district.
