Taliban gains control of south Afghanistan; four more cities fall

Taliban has captured over two-thirds of nation; US, Britain to evacuate embassies

The Taliban completed their sweep of the country’s south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the US is set to officially end its two-decade war.
 
The latest significant blow was the loss of the capital of Helmand province, where American, British and allied Nato forces fought some of the bloodiest battles in the past 20 years. Hundreds of foreign troops were killed in the province, which is also a major opium hub.
 
The insurgents have taken half of the country's 34 provincial capitals