Ghazni offensive
The Ghazni offensive began on 10 August 2018, when Taliban fighters launched an assault on the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan's sixth largest city and one which has been culturally and strategically important for much of the country's history. The attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of insurgents, soldiers, police, and civilians. The city also sustained large-scale property damage. The battle, occurring only weeks before Afghanistan's 2018 parliamentary election, was the largest since a three-day truce in June had raised hopes of peace talks.
| Ghazni offensive | |||||||||
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| Part of the War in Afghanistan | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Afghanistan United States | Taliban | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Ashraf Ghani (President of Afghanistan) Mohammad Sharif Yaftali (ANA chief of staff) Brig. Gen. Dadan Lawang (203rd Corps) Gen. John Nicholson (Commander of Resolute Support Mission) |
Hibatullah Akhundzada (Supreme Commander) | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
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Afghan National Security Forces United States Armed Forces
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Several contingents
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| Strength | |||||||||
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At least 1,500 3 Army Special Operations teams (ODA's) | More than 1,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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| 150 civilians killed | |||||||||
The battle was part of a larger coordinated offensive by the Taliban which allowed the Taliban to capture several government bases and districts and killed hundreds of Afghan soldiers and police.