— in kandahar with usaid money. correct? . �* , in kandahar with usaid money. correct?ect?_ yeah. in | in kandahar with usaid money. - correct?— yeah. in 1973 correct? that's right. yeah. in 1973 kin: zahir correct? that's right. yeah. in 1973 king zahir shah's _ correct? that's right. yeah. in 1973 king zahir shah's was _ correct? that's right. yeah. in 1973 king zahir shah's was in _ correct? that's right. yeah. in 1973 king zahir shah's was in over- correct? that's right. yeah. in 1973 king zahir shah's was in over him l correct? that's right. yeah. in 1973| king zahir shah's was in over him in a bloodless coup. he declared afghanistan a the public and himself the first president. he rode the tiger of his times, balancing big investments from the americans against those of the soviet union. i was part of that low key generation, the first who would reap the rewards of all the hard work. we were and vicious skills. we had the idea is to be lawyers, to be doctors, to transform our country. ——we were ambitious girls. we could not have known how very quickly the best of

for capturing the country's second city, kandahar. ., ., ., ., , ., kandahar. for a ma'ority of the population. h kandahar. for a ma'ority of the population. they _ kandahar. for a majority of the population, they are _ kandahar. for a majority of the population, they are waiting i kandahar. for a majority of the population, they are waiting to | kandahar. for a majority of the - population, they are waiting to see how things will unfold, with a mixture of fear, anger and resignation.— mixture of fear, anger and resignation. mixture of fear, anger and resionation. . , ., p, p, mixture of fear, anger and resionation. . , ., ., . ., ., resignation. fears mount of a ma'or humanitarian — resignation. fears mount of a ma'or humanitarian crisis, d resignation. fears mount of a ma'or humanitarian crisis, as i resignation. fears mount of a ma'or humanitarian crisis, as families h humanitarian crisis, as families flee the escalating conflict to already overcrowded camps. in the uk, a father and already overcrowded camps. in the uk, a fatherand his already overcrowded ca

kandahar airport, though, is still largely intact.chnological innovation made that possible. i went on the internet here not too long ago to see what i could find out about the international airport in kandahar. and i found out that the nato forces were using it, but that also the afghanistan national airlines was using it for domestic flights all over afghanistan. and also for some international flights in the area. i would go back there. yeah. yeah, those were the days. we had a good life, we really did. we had a really good life. hello. saturday was always going to be the dodgier day of the weekend of the weather. a, dodgier day of the weekend of the weather. �* , , , ., , weather. a bit misty over the hills in wales. since _ weather. a bit misty over the hills in wales. since then, _ weather. a bit misty over the hills in wales. since then, the - weather. a bit misty over the hills in wales. since then, the rain - weather. a bit misty over the hillsl in wales. since then, the rain band has been progressing its weight northwards an

kandahar airport, though, is still largely intact.n until a different technological innovation made that possible. i went on the internet here not too long ago to see what i could find out about the international airport in kandahar. and ifound out that the nato forces were using it but that also the afghanistan national airlines was using it for domestic flights all over afghanistan. and also for some international flights in the area. i would go back there. yeah. yeah, those were the days. we had a good life, we really did. we had a really good life. hello there. we just had the hottest day of the month on wednesday. and it was western scotland the place to be. looks lovely in the sunshine and temperatures reached 27 celsius. now, it won't get as hot as that again through the rest of the month because we've got this weather front moving down toward the southwest of the uk. it's bringing in cloud, one or two spots of rain just for a while, and as that weather front moves through, so we introduce a cooler wind off the north sea. that'

kandahar airport, though, is still largely intact.on made that possible. i went on the internet here not too long ago to see what i could find out about the international airport in kandahar. and ifound out that the nato forces were using it but that also the afghanistan national airlines was using it for domestic flights all over afghanistan. and also for some international flights in the area. i would go back there. yeah. yeah, those were the days. we had a good life, we really did. we had a really good life. most of us can expect to see some rain over the weekend, and some rain over the weekend, and some of that rain could be quite heavy. saturday looks to be the wettest day, spells of heavy rain, sunday should be a bit brighter, with some sunshine but still one or two showers this is the recent satellite picture and you can see the top of cloud working on from the west, this is a weather front, it is going to continue to bring outbreaks of rain, and instead of clearing through quickly, this front will stick with us all day on satu

kandahar airport, though, is still largely intact.til a different technological innovation made that possible. i went on the internet here not too long ago to see what i could find out about the international airport in kandahar. and ifound out that the nato forces were using it but that also the afghanistan national airlines was using it for domestic flights all over afghanistan. and also for some international flights in the area. i would go back there. yeah. yeah, those were the days. we had a good life, we really did. we had a really good life. hello again. saturday was always going to be the slightly dodgier day of the weekend in terms of weather, and we have a lot of cloud. most of us saw some fairly heavy rain as well. that was the grey skies that we had in wales, for a time, with the rain coming down. a bit misty over the hills, as well. since then, the rain band has been progressing its way northwards and eastwards, and it will continue to do so over the next few hours, as well. that said, i reckon it will stay pretty wet acr

nearby kandahar is believed to be on the brink.w departing, as i say, and leaving the country to what we are going to see is a massive humanitarian disaster, a civil war. we are going to see huge migration problems and on top of that we are going to see terrorism raise its ugly head again no doubt in this country and other countries because it's now become a safe haven for them to regroup, rearm, and retrain. most british troops had already left kabul as part of the us led withdrawal. this temporary surge is purely to facilitate the departure of those who remain securely, but once again it raises more questions as to what was achieved by the sacrifice of a57 british lives over the past 20 years. jonathan beale, bbc news. it's been a week of extreme weather conditions and weather related disasters around the world. algeria has observed a day of mourning after wildfires took the lives of 69 people since monday. high winds and 50 degree celsius heat fueled the rapid spread of the blazes. algerian authorites say they suspect arson in s

he's from kandahar we heard reports of heavy fighting between the taliban and members of the kandahar police inside the police headquarters, as well as in the upscale, i know may not township. we have to really remember that kandahar is the home of senior. all of our leaders and commanders, this is where they started their movement in the 1900 ninety's and come to hong is where i've gotten special forces in commanders over the last many years of pe, the massive risk of trying to protect the strategic districts as well, as the city itself, we saw the taliban beaching parts of the city over the last 7 to 8 weeks. we also saw american drones carrying out here strikes against the taliban. but there are also many mass surrenders of police forces from various tribes over the last 15 months or so. what is very concerning for the african government that is very heavy fighting and the center of harass city with several key government buildings being taken by the taliban. we noted the former jay, the commander smile hahn who was a one time taliban prisoner in the 1. $990.00 is putting a stiff r

wanted him to become a security chief of kandahar province.ld help bring and taliban elements and lay down their arms. sherzai hated this guy. there was no way and also he was helping the al qaeda guys that were still in hiding to get out of the country and to get out of kandahar. sherzai is like no way you'll taccom the eventual security chief so there was real friction and it was so poor they stay united. they were pashtuns taliban pashtun so we could not afford for there to be split between them. is something like 40% of the operation in afghanistan is pashtun as well. >> absolutely. so we had to kind of lay the law down so to speak and the echo team leader who is very close to karzai at that point especially after all he had been through it myself with sherzai as well as mark because mark new sherzai as well and wanted him to be there so we go to this meeting between the two to kind of sort things out and basically we were told hey guys we have to come to an agreement here. you've got to get this thing resolved and to his credit karzai sai

being based in kandahar province is really almost like a fortress while much of kandahar province was being taken back by the taliban. the government has been committed to defending at all costs. kandahar had some of the better military units there was able to call and asked support to in fact, including us as strikes as a way of trying to keep the taliban at bay. but it seems that overnight said that they breached the defenses of the city. we got increasing reports about fighting in the center of the city claims by the taliban that they taken the governor's resident's. the police had quoted indeed, backed up by video showing apparent to taliban fighters walking around the residence. we got confirmation that the governor and his officials had had left and also the menu, the military units that had pulled back into what is a very big military base at the side of kandahar. so, but if it's, if the remains to be lost by the government, if it cannot re take this, then that is a very big blow. but he joined a number of other places during the night to the full them to fell during the night

kabul fell as well. ., fled from kandahar kabul fell as well. . , ., fled from kandahar kabul fell asar _ well. that you are trapped in the airbase in kandahar with - well. that you are trapped in the airbase in kandahar with the i well. that you are trapped in the i airbase in kandahar with the taliban surrounding you and is in negotiation for the military withdrawal in exchange for all the hardware, all that keeps it that the americans have put in there. so presumably in kandahar that taliban are better off than they have ever been? i are better off than they have ever been? ~ are better off than they have ever been? ., �* , are better off than they have ever been? ~ �* , ,., are better off than they have ever been? ~ �*, ,., ., been? i think it's something that we saw there was _ been? i think it's something that we saw there was how _ been? i think it's something that we saw there was how quickly _ been? i think it's something that we saw there was how quickly this i saw there was how quickly this garrett was being taken. when we fled this villages drove the humvees out onto the t

have just we had that they have taken kandahar city. we don't understand that to be entirely true, but we do understand that there is intense fighting happening in kandahar city right now. there have been videos starting to see the out on, on social media, but cell phones down in the city. this is the 2nd biggest city in afghanistan and it is the birthplace of the taliban. they have been fighting for it for a number of months. the government has st. special forces there to protect the city . it is a huge asset for the government and a huge priority for the government to hold onto that city. hundreds of thousands of people live via cell phones. when down there earlier today, we understand that the, the telephone had been pushing, but it's only just now that we've started to hear little bits of information about the tell about being in the heart of the city. hey, be fighting ongoing, some videos of convoys of security forces coming out on social media, showing them exiting the city. so there's a lot happening there, the telephone claiming

the taliban is surrendered in kandahar, a city theyjust surrendered in kandahar, a city they just togethereve. and then there is where we are today. those of the lona where we are today. those of the long term _ where we are today. those of the long term issues, - where we are today. those of| the long term issues, clearly, with the endeavour. could anyone have predicted how could have swept across the country now? ~ ., , ., ., now? well, that is one of the problems _ now? well, that is one of the problems that _ now? well, that is one of the problems that needs - now? well, that is one of the problems that needs to - now? well, that is one of the problems that needs to be i problems that needs to be examined is that it has gone so fast and there have been years and years and years of optimistic reporting and we know that there are some government watchdogs here in the united states that have flagged that problem. there is a lack of forthrightness with respect to progress. and it also demonstrates that the 20 year effort has not done much to allow afghanistan to stand on its own feet and t

they also claim to have taken kandahar. the us and otherforeign claim to have taken kandahar.d other foreign troops withdrew after 20 years of military operations but now the us is sending 3000 soldiers back to help evacuate a significant amount of embassy staff. , , ., ., , staff. this is a temporary mission _ staff. this is a temporary mission with _ staff. this is a temporary mission with a _ staff. this is a temporary mission with a narrow . staff. this is a temporary . mission with a narrow focus. staff. this is a temporary - mission with a narrow focus. as with all deployments of our troops into harms way our commanders have the inherent right of self—defence and any attack on them can and will be met with a forceful and response. met with a forceful and response-_ met with a forceful and response. met with a forceful and resonse. , ,, , ~:: 1: response. the uk supply 600 troo -s to response. the uk supply 600 tr00ps to help _ response. the uk supply 600 troops to help relocate - troops to help relocate nationals, staff and interpreters. at one british politician and for

i girls in kandahar, she fled before it was captured.— girls in kandahar, she fled before it was capturedi am lost- how do _ it was captured. i am sad and i am lost. how do you _ it was captured. i am sad and i am lost. how do you feel— it was captured. i am sad and i am lost. how do you feel about i it was captured. i am sad and i am lost. how do you feel about the i it was captured. i am sad and i am | lost. how do you feel about the us and uk sending — lost. how do you feel about the us and uk sending in _ lost. how do you feel about the us and uk sending in troops _ lost. how do you feel about the us and uk sending in troops to - lost. how do you feel about the us i and uk sending in troops to evacuate own nationals? ii and uk sending in troops to evacuate own nationals?— own nationals? if you come from a weakened country, _ own nationals? if you come from a weakened country, you _ own nationals? if you come from a weakened country, you are - own nationals? if you come from a weakened country, you are not i weakened country, you are not important. weakened country, you are not importa

this is the center of kandahar city, a political and economic powerhouse. taliban were born in this province. to show off their gains, the group's fighters filmed themselves walking through the provincial governor's office, and released this video, showing a traffic policeman welcoming them. after days of fierce fighting, afghan forces retreated. here they're seen leaving te city. this woman worked to educate girls in kandahar. here they're seen leaving the city. this woman worked to educate girls in kandahar. she fled. >> i'm going to be honest.> reporter: how do you feeltio about the u.s. and the u.k. sending in troops to evacuate their own nationals? >> i was never against withdrawal. withdrawal was never a problem. it's not that. it's them legitimizing the taliban. that's the problem. >> reporter: hours before kandahar, herat was alsoso captured, a major trade centerte close to the border with iran. in the weeks leading up to the fall

but certainly on the cost of going there is also heavy fighting in kandahar city. now that is incredibly important. because it is the 2nd biggest city in afghanistan, it is the birthplace of the telephone. they have been fighting incredibly hard to get and the government has seen a lot of the most elite special forces to keep the taliban us. it strikes have been ongoing there to, to try and push the taliban out for at least a month. but they, they managed to get into the heart of the city today. we saw the videos of it thought communications are very poor, so it's incredibly hard to stand up exactly where they're at. now i talked to someone at the short time ago who said he'd be fighting is ongoing, but it's hard to tell exactly what the telephone now controlling kandahar city with communications down there is heavy fighting ongoing in for other provinces. so this is not stopping the telephone and not stopping yet they, they are turning their attention now that they've claims these other provinces, they're turning their attention to others. tonight, i'm told that h

there is fierce fighting in the country's second-biggest city, kandahar.is sending 3000 u.s. troops to kabul to help remove embassy staff. polls are closed in zambia after long queues of people jammed voting sessions -- voting areas into the night. it is a tight race between the president and his opposition rival. algeria is observing three days of mourning after the number of people killed in wildfires went up to 69. they are appealing for help to attack the blazes. brain has brought much-needed relief to firefighters on the greek island of evie. fires have scorched the northern half of the island. most of the blazes have subsided. the country's prime minister called the destruction the greatest ecological catastrophe greece had seen in decades. he blamed the climate crisis and said he is ready to make bold changes. a new wave of floods and landslides has swept through turkey's northern black sea region. 11 people are dead. hundreds more have been evacuated from their homes. >> turkey is still battling natural disasters. it was on fire for weeks. now the

they also claim to have taken kandahar.d other foreign troops withdrew after 20 years of military operations, but now the us is sending 3000 soldiers back to help evacuate a significant amount of embassy staff. this is a temporary mission with a narrow focus. as with all deployments of our troops into harms way, our commanders have the inherent right of self—defence and any attack on them can and will be met with a forceful and aapropriate response. the uk is deploying 600 troops to help relocate nationals, staff and interpreters. at one british politician and former soldier is clear as to who is to blame for the current turmoil. these are decisions we made to ten, 15 years ago. of not talking to the taliban. not training of afghan forces. at most critically, imposing western solutions on a country that was not ready for it, by any means. now we are departing, as i say, and leaving the country to what we will see as a massive humanitarian disaster. peace talks are still ongoing, but they seem far—removed from what is going

this is the centre of kandahar city, a political and economic powerhouse.ere born in this province. to show off their gains, the fighters found themselves walking through their provincial governors office. and released this video showing a traffic policeman welcoming them. after days of fierce fighting, afghan forces retreated. here they are seen leaving the city. he worked to educate girls in kandahar, she fled before it was captured. i am sad, i am lost. how do you feel about the us and the uk standing in trips to the effective rate their own nationals? you get to be evacuated if you come from a strong family. you get to be evacuated if you come from a strong economy. if you come from a weak country or if you country is not with are not important. hours before kandahar, this was also captured, a major trade centre close to the border with iran. in the weeks leading up to the fall, influential leader had led the battle against the taliban. now he has been captured by the insurgent group. helmand province, where british troops fought some of their fiercest

we hearfrom a kandahar resident. prison is already broken. people are out, prisoners are out. they are outside already attacking the governor house. i don't know what else to expect from them. in other news: the heatwave continues across much of southern europe and north africa, fanning the flames of devastating wildfires. from heatwave to wildfires to this — flash flooding — the latest disaster to hit turkey, this time in the north of the country. here in the uk, a second year of teacher assessed results raises questions about regional differences — and girls move further ahead of boys. the taliban is continuing its astonishing sweep across afghanistan, with more dramatic developments just today. in the past two hours we've heard that they have captured afghanistan's third biggest city, herat, and appear poised to gain control of the second largest kandahar. if that's confirmed, this day will mark the most significant advance so far as one after another, the country's provincial capitals fall to the militants. with

this is the centre of kandahar city, a political and economic powerhouse.iban were born in this province. to show off their gains, the group's fighters filmed themselves walking through the provincial governor's office. and released this video, showing a traffic policemen welcoming them. after days of fierce fighting, afghan forces retreated. here, they're seen leaving the city. pashtana durrani worked to educate girls in kandahar. she fled before it was captured. i want to be very honest — i don't see any future. i don't have any hope. i'm furious, i'm sad, i'm... i'm lost and it'sjust a lot of emotions. how do you feel about the us and uk sending in troops to evacuate their own nationals? i was never against withdrawal. withdrawal was never a problem. it's not that a few thousand of their troops would have defended the whole country. it's them legitimising the deal. it's them legitimising the taliban, that's the problem. hours before kandahar, herat was also captured — a major trade centre close to the border with iran. in the weeks leading up to the fall

, and i pending a collapse of kandahar, and i know _ pending a collapse of kandahar, and i know tornhot, who did several— i know tom too can hot, who did several tours of duty in afghanistan, is absolutely foaming, positively _ afghanistan, is absolutely foaming, positively spitting, he is furious. hes— positively spitting, he is furious. he's written a 19 page twitter thread — he's written a 19 page twitter thread in— he's written a 19 page twitter thread in which he says, "this is appalling, — thread in which he says, "this is appalling, we have let these people down _ appalling, we have let these people down its— appalling, we have let these people down. it's the equivalent of training _ down. it's the equivalent of training a _ down. it's the equivalent of training a guy for a title bout then on the _ training a guy for a title bout then on the day— training a guy for a title bout then on the day he's due to go we've done to these afghan soldiers and troops. but we've done to these afghan soldiers and troo s. �* , ., _, and troops. but henry, what could the uk have _ and troops.

worst economic crisis and decor ah, fighting is intensifying for afghanistan, 2nd largest city of kandahar tyler bond continues to gain more territory across the country earlier. it captured another major provincial city, rodney, which is just a couple of hours drive from the national capital. it confirms us officials concerns that cobble could fall to the top bond within 90 days. rodney strategically located on the main road between kandahar and cobble it means the top one has taken 10 provincial capitals in the past week, including fully camry and fears are bad in the north and ferocity in the south while the fighting continues to control kandahar and to other provincial capitals, head up, and last got gone. well, the 3rd day of talks on the situation in afghanistan, wrapping up here in doha. international envoys have been meeting with government and tyler bond delegations, hama jim. jim has the latest we are trying to find out exactly what is being discussed, but many of the diplomats that have been here have been load to speak on the record just yet. what we do know is there is a great

here with reports of taliban fighters breaching the defenses of kandahar driving through to the center of the city. intense fighting their claims from the taliban, that the governor and his staff had had left the that compound. as a result of all this, the u. s. and u. k. a sending at least 3600 trips into campbell to help pull out empathy stuff and local interpreters, but washington and see if it's not a full evacuation and the empathy will remain open. at the headlines, samsung's vice chairman's been released from prison in south korea to been granted parole. j. y lee with living a 2 and a half year sentence for bribery critic say his release reflect the culture of lenient. see, the corporate bosses boats have been counted, van b as presidential and parliamentary elections. president edgarland who is taking a controversial 3rd term and what is thought to be an extremely tight, right. the italian health ministries issued warning for 8 that he's the heat wave sweets, the country on thursday. the temperature hit 40 degrees celsius in rome, and the latest us census data shows the white p

a lot of the focus of attention has been down in the south in the city of kandahar . this is hugely important for everybody involved in this conflict for the government. it's the 2nd city and it's because it's in the hotline of the taliban. what the birthplace of the taliban. it is treated almost as a fortress city. and while much of the rest of kandahar is gradually come under taliban control, once more it was the government has been determined to hold on to kandahar itself with some of the best, jude it's defending it from the special forces and so on. that's where we've also seen many of the ass strikes being called in for both the african air force, but also the us military who have been thus far still providing support is a way of defending the city. but it has been the out to defense that been stormed. it has been breached. all of it began thursday through into thursday night here with reports that taliban forces had stormed into the center of the city. there was intense fighting going on. then there were claims from the taliban who had earlier got also got a st

they've entered parts of herat, lashkar gah, and kandahar, afghanistan's second biggest city.e saw heavy fighting overnight, particularly in lashkar gah, capital of helmand province. both afghan and american air strikes being used against the taliban positions inside the city. you'll remember that yesterday the taliban had advanced at one point to around, we're told, 300 metres from the governor's compound right in the centre of lashkar gah before being pushed back. special forces were flown in. the government says that dozens of taliban fighters have been killed, but fighting has been continuing this morning, and, as you say, clashes have also been taking place in recent days elsewhere in the country too, notably around the cities of herat in the west and kandahar in the south. kandahar airport, three rockets were launched, hitting the runway last night — that's led to the closure of the airport today. when it comes to herat, well, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city. taliban forces are not inside herat, but they were fighting on the outskirts

more do you know about the capture of kandahar the taliban claims? according to some icons, that of the province is only left with a 6 or 7 of his body guards refusing to leave. he's from kandahar we heard reports of heavy fighting between the taliban and members of the con, the heart police inside the police headquarters. we have to really remember that come to heart is the home of senior thought about leaders and commanders. this is where they started their movement in the 1990. i think it's also a very embarrassing scenario for the americans, the international community in nickel, when a place like falls. and i'm, one of sam does not have that credible piece process or a comprehensive and permanent sci fi was the american officials and other wisdom officials publicly, priding on the fact that the top to bottom, we're not to do this, that's all about, we're not to do that in this and now the african people are left extremely vulnerable. that is not to say that the african government was not incompetent. that is not to say that i've gotten politicia

they have claimed to take control of kandahar.ut we have not circumstantial evidence confirmation from the government and there has been pushback from security forces in afghanistan as to whether or not kandahar had completely fallen. the same holds true for herat. again, another huge city in afghanistan. think back one week ago. the taliban, yes, they were in control of a lot of rural areas and smaller villages. they were making inroads there, but they did not control a single provincial capital a week ago today. they took the first from vince shl capital on friday, a week ago tomorrow, and last friday, and then swiftly moved across the north taking kunduz and expanding to the south. in cases forces have melted away. we heard stories of at hand hard airporter one man who was in kandahar and fled the city, made it here on monday. told me the reasons the forces weren't fighting there is because they were under siege at the airport and they had no supplies. they had no food and water, and it was only a matter of time before they had

the fall of last got a guy and kandahar the country. second city would be the most significant gain for the on group since it's offensive began. the u. s. in the u. k, are sending more than 3 and a half 1000 troops to cobble to help with the evacuation of embassy staff and local interpreters. the us state department says this is not a complete evacuation, and it's embassy will remain open. these are the 2 most important cities in the south kandahar in particular. being based in kandahar province is really almost like a fortress while much kind of a province was being taken back by the taliban. the government has been committed to defending at all costs kandahar. he has some of the better military units. there was able to call and asked support in fact, including us as strikes as a way of trying to keep the taliban at bay. but it seems that overnight said that they breached the defenses of the city of votes being counted in zambia, the presidential and parliamentary elections. president edgar longer seeking a controversial 3rd term and w

the 2nd largest city kandahar and laska golf club. so we believe that this is not only the right thing to do, but this is the right time to do with american and british troops had to afghanistan to evacuate. embassy staff and others from cobbled ah, law hasn't speak of this is just alive from the house or coming up. samsung's vice chairman j y lee walked out of a south korean prison released early from a sentence for bribery and embezzled. choosing corn dogs over koran a virus worries, one of the largest annual gatherings has opened in the us. me the taliban claims to have made its most significant gains yet in its efforts to take over african territory as foreign forces withdraw. local sources of hold of the taliban has seized 2 more provincial capitals, kandahar and laska. god have canister. the government hasn't confirmed this. it will take the total number of provincial capital seized by the taliban. over the past week to 13. a kandahar is the country's 2nd biggest city and the arm groups, birthplace, laska. god is the capital of

now among ones, when you hear such big names, kandahar rod mazata. when you hear one official surrendering and making their own ideas, it is ought to have a very destructive and negative impact on the psych in confidence. so the african people in cobbled with the taliban taking hold of multiple provinces in a single day. the state department says it will dramatically reduce its embassy staff in couple with american troops sent in to help. and although this may look like an evacuation something akin to the 1975 saigon airlift. the state department tried to strike an optimistic note. this is not abandonment, this is not an evacuation. this is not the wholesale. busy withdrawl, what this is, is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint. this is a draw down of civilian americans. there are 3000 us military personnel headed for afghanistan to secure what it's calling a safe, draw down of american civilian personnel. basically, u. s embassy, staff, and others are going to be a score to out of the country by the military. the military will be there

in kandahar city, the 2nd biggest sitting and going on. also heavy fighting journalists via telling us that had constant gunfire for about 24 hours inside the city. the airport to be a was damaged by a rocket attack. civilian flights were stopped, but they hoped to resume them on monday, but also usa strikes and ask any force striking via to support the military on the ground. and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that manage to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements and then managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani. held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority or also following other stories. this our, the international olympic committee has spoken with an athlete who is trying to stay in japan of falling out with th

will the taliban have just tweeted that they have taken kandahar city. we don't understand that to be entirely true, but we do understand that there is intense fighting happening in kandahar city right now. there have been videos starting to see pallets on on social media, but cell phones down in the city. this is the 2nd biggest city in afghanistan. it is the birthplace of the taliban. they have been fighting for it for a number of months. the government has st. special forces there to protect the city . it is a huge asset for the government and a huge priority for the government to hold onto that city. hundreds of thousands of people live via the latest round of talks on off canisters of wrapped up here in the car to the capital in the hall. international envoys met with delegations from the government and tyler bond. but no breakthrough appears to be made during 3 days . of discussions, the great prime minister says the recent wildfires, his country's biggest ecological catastrophe. in decades the government has pledged billions of dollars in aid for

local officials are being quoted by various wire agencies confirming the kandahar now is in control of the tyler and all of these developments started happening late 1st day. here with reports of, of taliban fighters breaching the defenses of kandahar of driving through to the center of the city, intense fighting their claims from the taliban, that the governor and its staff has had left the that compound bull claims that they taken over the police compound and then we started to see uploaded videos, apparently purporting to show almost a walk around of the deserted offices of the governor. so they did being claimed by, by the taliban, that they are now in control. it's a lot of the military units. it seems have withdrawn to a large military base on the edge of kandahar and they remains to be seen just whether there are any plans for some counter attack counter offensive. all of this is from to the u. s. and the u. k to send at least 3600 troops in chicago to help pull out empathy, staff and local interpreters. washington though and not a full evacuation, and the embassy will remain op

clarissa ward, cnn, kandahar. >>> u.s. military has concluded that last week's deadly-drone attack on an israel-linked tanker ship was carried out by iran. the foreign ministers of the g7 nations issued a joint statement, on friday, saying all-available evidence clearly points to iran. iran insists it had no role in the attack. we get the latest from cnn's frederik pleitgen in iran. >> well, the u.s. military now says that it has evidence that the drone that was used to attack the israeli-managed ship mercer street was manufactured in iran. essentially, what the pentagon is saying, is that a forensic team from the u.s. military went onboard that ship after it was hit and what they managed to do was they managed to recover some of the parts of that drone, which they say was a suicide drone. in other words, one that crashed into that ship. of course, killing two of the sailors. they managed to recover some of the parts of that drone. and they said, looking at those parts, it became clear that those were parts that were usual

another big target is kandahar.e road to kandahar's front line, there is still civilian traffic even as the taliban inches deeper into the city. afghan commandoes most of the fighting here happens at night. the taliban snipers are at work 24 hours a day. >> from snipers? >> yes. >> the men tell us the taliban are hiding in houses just 50 yards away from us. >> and they shoot from people's homes? >> yeah. you see this is our civilians' homes. we cannot use, you know, the big weapons, the heavy weapons. >> reporter: up on the roof major habibula shahin wants to show us something. >> you can actually see the taliban flag just over on the mountaintop there. >> you see flag. >> reporter: it's been nearly a month since the taliban penetrated afghanistan's second largest city. since then these men haven't had a break. u.s. airstrikes only come in an emergency. rest of the time it's up to them to hold the line. "we feel a little bit weak without u.s. airstrikes and ground support and equipment," he says, "but this is our so