Military Wiki
Battle of Darzab
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Date9 April – 27 April 2017
LocationDarzab District and surrounding districts, Jowzjan Province, Afghanistan
Result

ISIL victory

  • ISIL captures most of Darzab and Qush Tepa District from Taliban
Belligerents

Flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant2 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

  • Khorasan Province
Flag of Taliban Taliban Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Qari Hekmat[1]
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Mufti Nemat[1]
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Mullah Ghanzanfar (WIA)
Flag of Taliban Faiz Mohammad
Flag of Taliban Sheikh Hamidullah
Flag of Taliban Shahzada Mazlomyar
Flag of Taliban Mohibullah
Flag of Taliban Haji Nokur (POW)
Afghanistan Abdul Rashid Dostum[1]
Afghanistan Col. Abdull Hafiz Khashi[2]
Afghanistan Mohammad Reza Ghafori[3]
Afghanistan Brig. Gen. Rahmatullah Turkistani [4]
Afghanistan 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.

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][10][11]

Aftermath[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "ISIS, Aided by Ex-Taliban Groups, Makes Inroads in Northern Afghanistan". The New York Times. 28 June 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/world/asia/isis-northern-afghanistan.html. Retrieved 13 August 2018. 
  2. "Afghan forces recapture Jawzjan's Darzab district | Pajhwok Afghan News". Pajhwok.com. 2017-06-21. https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/06/21/afghan-forces-recapture-jawzjan%E2%80%99s-darzab-district. Retrieved 2018-04-30. 
  3. Agencies (10 April 2017). "US soldier, 13 Afghan troops killed in three attacks". https://www.dawn.com/news/1326000/us-soldier-13-afghan-troops-killed-in-three-attacks. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  4. "13 militants killed in fighting in northern Afghanistan - Xinhua - English.news.cn". http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-04/10/c_136197204.htm. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  5. News, VOA. "Afghan Violence Leaves 13 Afghan, 1 US Soldiers Dead". http://www.voanews.com/a/afghanistan-soldiers-dead-balkh-province/3802678.html. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  6. "News of the Day From Around the World". http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/News-of-the-Day-From-Around-the-World-11061568.php. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  7. MENAFN. "1 woman, 13 militants killed in Jawzjan clashes". http://menafn.com/1095383868/1-woman-13-militants-killed-in-Jawzjan-clashes. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  8. "Nearly 100 dead as Taliban, Daesh clash in Afghanistan". http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/nearly-100-dead-as-taliban-daesh-clash-in-afghanistan/806034. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  9. "ISIS in Afghanistan is attacking the Taliban, killing dozens". http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-islamic-state-taliban-clash-in-afghanistan-dozens-killed-2017-4. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 MENAFN. "Afghanistan- 91 dead as Taliban-Daesh clash goes on in Jawzjan". http://menafn.com/1095424697/Afghanistan--91-dead-as-Taliban-Daesh-clash-goes-on-in-Jawzjan. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
  11. "Around 100 Taliban, ISIS militants killed in clashes: Afghanistan". 27 April 2017. http://zeenews.india.com/world/around-100-taliban-isis-militants-killed-in-clashes-afghanistan-1999911.html. Retrieved 6 May 2017. 
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