Fall of Herat

The Fall of Herat was a battle and subsequent capture of Herat by Taliban fighters. The attack on the city started around 28 July 2021, and ended in Taliban victory by 13 August of the same year. Several of the surrounding districts fell to the Taliban from June to mid-July, leaving only the city and two other districts in government hands by 10 July. The border crossings in Herat Province were captured by the Taliban on 9 July, raising prices of goods inside the city. Ismail Khan, former governor and warlord, led a public uprising force to assist the Afghan National Security Forces in defending the city.

After fighting started in the city around the end of July, the Taliban launched a significant attack on 30 July, shutting down the Herat International Airport and temporarily taking the road leading to the airport. A few days later, some Heratis chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) in support of the government forces. The Taliban insurgents launched another significant attack on the city on 12 August, taking the city by night after a two-week siege. Fall of the city forced Ismail Khan and other top government officials to retreat to the provincial airport and the army corps headquarters outside the city. The next day Ismail Khan and other senior security officials including a deputy for the interior ministry, an army corps commander and an intelligence director, along with thousands of government forces, surrendered to the Taliban.

Simultaneously with the withdrawal of most United States troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban had increased the intensity of their offensive in Afghanistan, taking at least 50 districts in May and June 2021. It seemed like the Taliban were capturing districts around provincial capitals, preparing to capture them once foreign forces left. At the end of June 2021, the Italian military pulled out from a base by Herat, allegedly destroying military equipment and not leaving any for the Afghan National Army. At that time, control of Herat International Airport was also handed over to Afghan forces. The last Italian troops arrived back in Italy late 29 June 2021.

In January 2019, SIGAR considered all but one district of Herat Province, Shindand District, to be either under government control or government influenced (between government control and contested). On 11 June 2021, the Taliban claimed to have captured Farsi District to the southwest of the city. 6 days later Obe District, which is directly north of Farsi District, fell to Herat's west. By 6 July, Ghoryan District to Herat's east on the border with Iran was under Taliban control, along with Chishti Sharif District to the west.

On 9 July, the Taliban captured eight districts of Herat Province and two major border towns, Islam Qala and Torghundi, in a 24 hour period. Islam Qala is 120 kilometres (75 mi) from Herat and is one of the main border crossings to Iran, bringing in 1.5 billion Afghani annually for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Soldiers fled to Iran for safety. Torghundi is one of two border crossings to Turkmenistan. The eight districts captured were Karukh, Kohsan, Gulran, Kushki Kuhna, Kushk, Shindand, Adraskan, and Pashtun Zarghun. According to reports, five districts fell without a fight. Zendeh Jan District, 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Herat, fell to the Taliban the day before. The attacks and captures of the districts only left 2 districts, Injil and Guzara, plus the city of Herat in government hands. Karokh District was retaken on 23 July, but was only held for a week. On 24 July, the government imposed a curfew for Herat Province and most of Afghanistan's other provinces. Karokh district was retaken on 30 July.

Following the capture of 8 districts in the province in one day on 9 July, the Taliban advanced close to the city. That same day Ismail Khan, former warlord and prominent member of Jamiat-e Islami, called up his followers to secure and defend Herat and then recapture the surrounding districts. They coordinated their activities with security forces and were deployed by 13 July. The forces he commanded temporarily prevented the capturing of the city by the Taliban and slowed their advance.

Fighting began in the city around 28 July. The next day, fighting reached the Malan Bridge, which crosses the Hari river about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of the city.

The battle was intense on 30 July. The portion of the Kandahar–Herat Highway leading to the airport was under heavy attack. The United Nations office in Herat was also attacked by gunfire and grenades, killing a security guard and wounding others. A Taliban spokesman released a statement saying the office had been caught in crossfire. The commander of the 207th Corps was captured and killed on this day as well. Due to the fighting, all flights were cancelled at Herat International Airport, located 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) south of the city. Government forces were able to retake the road going to the airport by the afternoon of the next day.