Taliban seizes Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province

Taliban militants say they have captured Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. A security source has confirmed the news, saying military and government officials had evacuated Lashkar Gah after striking a deal with the Taliban. The militants have seized over a dozen provincial capitals since last Friday, as they press ahead with their offensive across Afghanistan. The group is estimated to be in control of nearly two-thirds of the country. The capital Kabul remains in the hands of the government. Thousands of civilians have already fled there, as the Taliban have taken key cities one by one. Meanwhile, the US and UK say they are deploying thousands of troops to help evacuate their nationals and diplomats leaving Afghanistan.