Afghan Forces Recapture Helmand’s Marja District

Government forces reclaimed control of the Marja District of southern Helmand province after four years of effort, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed.

Marja was recaptured after the Afghan Security and Defense Forces conducted a clearance operation to crackdown on the presence of Taliban militants in the district.

In a statement released on Saturday, the MoD said that heavy casualties have been inflicted on the militants. At least 37 Taliban insurgents were killed, including Mullah Abdulbari, the organization’s military commander for the district.

During the operation, Afghan security forces destroyed two Taliban explosive depots and six Taliban strongholds. Afghan security forces also defused at least 103 roadside mines, which were planted by the Taliban.

MoD did not provide further details on the casualties of Afghan forces.

The District fell to the Taliban in November 2015 after a four-day clash between the Taliban and Afghan forces.

Earlier today, Brig. Gen. Zahirgul Muqbil, an army regiment commander of Afghan border forces was killed in a roadside mine blast. However, the Taliban has claimed that they have targeted Muqbil while his convoy was heading to the closing program of operation in the district.

Helmand is a volatile province in the south of the country where the Taliban militants are actively operating in a number of its districts.