Afghanistan's second-largest city, Kandahar, falls to the Taliban

Kandahar is the twelfth provincial capital taken over by the Taliban.
Photo taken on Aug. 6, 2021 shows smoke rising during gun fights in Shiberghan, capital of Jawzjan Province, Afghanistan.
By Natalia Mittelstadt

The Taliban on Thursday seized the provincial capital of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city.

Kandahar is the twelfth of 34 provincial capitals in Afghanistan that has been taken over by the Taliban, the Associated Press reported.

Afghan authorities said that government officials were able to make it to the airport and escape Kandahar by plane.