In a recently released video, the Taliban highlighted its fighters overrunning the Chapa Dara district center in Kunar province. While the date of the attack was not disclosed, it likely took place in May, when the Taliban launched an offensive in multiple areas throughout Kunar.

The video, which is titled ‘Caravan of Heroes 13’ and was published on Aug. 28, was produced by Manba al Jihad Studio, “an official media wing of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Commission for Cultural Affairs Audio and Visual Sector” according to the accompanying statement announcing the release of the video.

In the video, the Taliban show its fighters bombarding the district center from the surrounding mountains and overrunning remote outposts. The video depicts several direct hits on the buildings. At least a dozen Afghan soldiers were killed in the attack, but those images have been edited out of the video clip. The Taliban also flaunted the US supplied HUMVEEs, weapons, ammunition, and other war materials seized in the assault.

As with previous videos reported on by FDD’s Long War Journal, the Taliban was able to organize and launch its attack, and then subsequently overrun Afghan government-controlled headquarters in broad daylight without fear of being targeted by Afghan or coalition forces – both on the ground or in the air.

The Taliban did not previously announce that its forces overran Chapa Dara, however the video provides direct evidence that it did indeed happen. As of July 3, 2017, the Taliban does not claim to control Chapa Dara, but maintains it is contested.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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