Eighty militants were killed when security forces mounted a counterattack after a major Taliban offensive on Lashkargah city in Helmand province on Sunday night, the Afghan interior ministry said.
Videos shared on social media by accounts associated with the Taliban showed fighters, along with many minors, allegedly marching to Helmand to take over one of Afghanistan’s largest provincial capitals.
Afghan security officials told The National that they had thwarted the attack. Afghan National Defence Security Forces "responded against the Taliban fighters' offensive, and in response killed 80 Taliban fighters", said Tariq Arian, the interior ministry spokesman.
“We do not have any reported civilian casualties, including children,” he said when asked about the children seen walking with the fighters in the videos. While the Taliban does recruit child soldiers, the children in the video do not appear to be among those used as fighters.
Omar Zwak, spokesman for the Helmand governor's office, confirmed the counter-offensive.
"We launched an operation last night, including air strikes [and] special forces in Nahre Siraj and Nawa area," Mr Zwak said.
“We are trying to get the situation back under control.”
The Afghan forces had moved towards Lashkargah gradually to avoid civilian casualties, he said.
The Taliban had captured parts of the city by Monday morning, but later updates from security force officials said they had reclaimed the majority of the capital and clearance operations were under way.
Witnesses described numerous battles between the Taliban and security forces in various parts of the city and surrounding districts overnight. The attacks forced many residents of the areas close to the fighting to flee their homes.
“Last night Taliban forces came to our neighbourhood and knocked on all our doors asking us to leave our houses,” said Abdul Jalil, a resident of Nad Ali district, about 25 kilometres from Lashkargah.
"They said if we didn't leave, we would lose our lives since they were planting IEDs [improvised explosive devices] to fight the government forces," he told The National.
Mr Jalil, 23, with his family and neighbours, was forced to leave in the middle of the night and move towards the provincial capital to seek safety, but they found battles raging there too.
“The situation in Lashkargah is pretty bad, the Taliban has reached the city and taken over many checkpoints from the government forces,” he said.
Among the government assets captured in Helmand was an electricity substation in the Durahi area on the outskirts of Lashkargah. "The Taliban took control of the substation, and has taken four of its employees captive, along with eight security forces," Wahidullah Tawhidi, chief media director of state utility Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, told The National.
“They set fire to parts of the substation and cut off the Kajaki power lines leading into Lashkargah as well as Kandahar city,” he said, referring to one of the major hydroelectric power lines in the south.
Mr Tawhidi said the company was negotiating with the Taliban for the release of its employees.
US Gen Austin Scott Miller, commander of Resolute Support and US forces in Afghanistan, condemned the attack, which comes as the Afghan government holds talks with Taliban leaders in Qatar as part of a US-Taliban agreement to resolve the Afghan conflict.
"The Taliban need to immediately stop their offensive actions in Helmand province and reduce their violence around the country. It is not consistent with the US-Taliban agreement and undermines the ongoing Afghan peace talks," Gen Miller said.
Some security analysts believe the latest attacks could be the reaction of an emboldened Taliban to US President Donald Trump's recent tweet suggesting that all American troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of this year.
"Attacks like this take days to plan and execute, however, the Taliban were already emboldened by the US-Taliban deal which they saw as a victory for themselves and a defeat for the United States. The tweet served as a morale booster," said Said Ibrahimi, a researcher at the Centre on International Co-operation.
In the tweet last week, Mr Trump said that all US forces serving in Afghanistan should be "home by Christmas”.
The message was welcomed by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who also extended the group's support for Mr Trump in the upcoming elections in the US. In a statement issued on social media he said: "Islamic Emirate welcomes these remarks and considers it a positive step for the implementation of the agreement signed between the [Taliban] and the US."
Others who have been tracking the development in the south suggested this attack was probably planned days ahead. “Our observations show there were already moves on the part of the Taliban in the province before the reports of early withdrawal,” said Ali Adili, a researcher at Afghan Analyst Network.
But while some violence was expected, an attack of this scale came as a surprise.
“There are increased instances of violence and small attacks but we did not have any indication showing an attempt on a provincial centre,” Mr Adili said.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
The specs
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- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
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- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
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Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
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Sector: E-commerce
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Funding: approximately $6m
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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
