Battle of Darzab (2017)

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Battle of Darzab
Part of the Islamic State–Taliban conflict, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021),
and War on Terror
Date9 April – 27 April 2017
Location
Darzab District and surrounding districts, Jowzjan Province, Afghanistan
Result

ISIL victory

Belligerents

Islamic State flag.svg  Islamic State

Flag of Taliban.svg Taliban Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Islamic State flag.svg Qari Hekmat [1]
Islamic State flag.svg Mufti Nemat [1]
Islamic State flag.svg Mullah Ghanzanfar (WIA)
Flag of Taliban.svg Faiz Mohammad 
Flag of Taliban.svg Sheikh Hamidullah 
Flag of Taliban.svg Shahzada Mazlomyar 
Flag of Taliban.svg Mohibullah 
Flag of Taliban.svg Haji Nokur (POW)
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Abdul Rashid Dostum [1]
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Col. Abdull Hafiz Khashi [2]
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Mohammad Reza Ghafori [3]
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Brig. Gen. Rahmatullah Turkistani [4]
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Rahmatullah Husher
Units involved
Qari Hekmat's network [1]
Mufti Nemat's militia [1]
Unknown

Security Forces

Strength
Unknown Unknown Hundreds [1]
Casualties and losses
15 killed, 22 wounded 93 killed, 58 wounded, and 63 captured (including drug dealers) 4 killed
1 civilian killed

The Battle of Darzab was to an armed conflict between Taliban soldiers, fighters of Wilayat Khorasan and soldiers of Afghan armed forces in Darzab District of Jowzjan province.

Contents

First attacks

On 9 April, four Afghan soldiers, including a unit commander, were killed in an ambush as they raced to the scene of the recent clashes in Darzab by ISIL fighters. [5] [6] One day after, Taliban, alongside ISIL fighters attacked Alkhani and Moghol villages of Darzab district, leaving 13 Taliban fighters dead, and 10 ISIL fighters wounded, including ISIL commander Mullah Ghanzanfar. Taliban managed to capture Alkhani, but repelled in Moghol. Separately, a Taliban commander, Faiz Mohammad was killed and one of his fighters wounded when they stormed a security post in Qush Tepa District near Darzab. A civilian woman was also killed when a militant rocket struck a home on the outskirts of the district. [7]

Fighting between Taliban and ISIL

On 26 April, ISIL kidnapped 3 drug dealers in Darzab that were to have an opium deal with the Taliban. Taliban repeatedly asked ISIL to release the captives, but the later refused, leading the Taliban to gather forces in Darzab. After that, ISIL attacked the Taliban killing 79 Taliban fighters, wounding another 57, and capturing another 60. Among the dead Taliban fighters were three commanders, Sheikh Hamidullah, the Taliban district chief for Qush Tapa district and Tawakkal, Shahzada Mazlomyar, and Mohibullah. One Taliban commander was also among the captured, named Haji Nokur. Also, 15 ISIL fighter killed, and 12 wounded. ISIL captured most of Darzab from Taliban, along with Qush Tapa during the fighting. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Aftermath

In 2018, the Taliban launched a major operation to take over the Darzab District and the surrounding districts from IS-KP. The battle was fought for 2 weeks and 6 days until following heavy clashes, IS-KP was defeated, with most of the group's forces in Jowzjan Province killed or captured. 3 out of the 4 IS-KP commanders surrendered to the Taliban. They killed Haji Murad, one of the IS-KP commanders at the battle and who was the Islamic State's deputy commander for Jowzjan. [12] [13] Taliban commander Mullah Burjan was executed [14] and Haji Shakir was killed in action. [13] At the end of the battle, more than 200 militants surrendered to the Taliban.[ citation needed ]

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The Battle of Darzab was a major conflict between the Taliban and the Islamic State's Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) who fought each other over control of Jowzjan Province's Darzab District in Afghanistan. Following heavy clashes, ISIS–K was defeated, with most of the group's forces in Jowzjan Province killed or captured.

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References

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  2. Tamkin, Hamid (21 June 2017). "Afghan forces recapture Jawzjan's Darzab district | Pajhwok Afghan News". Pajhwok.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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  11. "Around 100 Taliban, ISIS militants killed in clashes: Afghanistan". 27 April 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  12. Tamkin, Hamid (23 July 2018). "Jawzjan: Senior Daesh leader killed in Taliban attack". Pajhwok Afghan News . Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  13. 1 2 Rahmani, Waliullah (10 August 2018). "The Taliban Takes on Islamic State: Insurgents Vie for Control of Northern Afghanistan". Terrorism Monitor. 16 (16). Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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