Battle of Darzab (2017)
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Darzab
| width =
| partof = the Islamic State–Taliban conflict, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021),
and War on Terror
| date = 9 April {{ndash}} 27 April 2017
| place = Darzab District and surrounding districts, Jowzjan Province, Afghanistan
| result = ISIL victory
- ISIL captures most of Darzab and Qush Tepa District from Taliban
| combatants_header =
| combatant1 = {{flag|Islamic State}}
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Taliban
| combatant3 = {{flag|Afghanistan|2013}}
| commander1 = {{flagicon|ISIL}} Qari Hekmat{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/world/asia/isis-northern-afghanistan.html |title=ISIS, Aided by Ex-Taliban Groups, Makes Inroads in Northern Afghanistan |author1=Jawad Sukhanyar |author2=Rod Nordland |work=The New York Times |date=28 June 2017 |access-date=13 August 2018 }}
{{flagicon|ISIL}} Mufti Nemat
{{flagicon|ISIL}} Mullah Ghanzanfar{{WIA}}
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Faiz Mohammad{{KIA}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Sheikh Hamidullah{{KIA}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Shahzada Mazlomyar{{KIA}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Mohibullah{{KIA}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Haji Nokur{{POW}}
| commander3 = {{flagicon|Afghanistan|2013}} Abdul Rashid Kosi
{{flagicon|Afghanistan|2013}} Col. Abdull Hafiz Khashi{{cite news |url=https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/06/21/afghan-forces-recapture-jawzjan%E2%80%99s-darzab-district |title=Afghan forces recapture Jawzjan's Darzab district | Pajhwok Afghan News |publisher=Pajhwok.com |date=2017-06-21 |access-date=2018-04-30 |last1=Tamkin |first1=Hamid |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040450/https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/06/21/afghan-forces-recapture-jawzjan%E2%80%99s-darzab-district |url-status=dead }}
{{flagicon|Afghanistan|2013}} Mohammad Reza Ghafori{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1326000/us-soldier-13-afghan-troops-killed-in-three-attacks|title=US soldier, 13 Afghan troops killed in three attacks|last=Agencies|date=10 April 2017|access-date=6 May 2017}}
{{flagicon|Afghanistan|2013}} Brig. Gen. Rahmatullah Turkistani {{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-04/10/c_136197204.htm|title=13 militants killed in fighting in northern Afghanistan - Xinhua - English.news.cn|website=news.xinhuanet.com|access-date=6 May 2017}}
{{flagicon|Afghanistan|2013}} Rahmatullah Husher
| units1 = Qari Hekmat's network
Mufti Nemat's militia
| units2 = Unknown
| units3 = Security Forces
- National Army (ANA)
- Police
| strength1 = Unknown
| strength2 = Unknown
| casualties1 = 15 killed, 22 wounded
| casualties2 = 93 killed, 58 wounded, and 63 captured (including drug dealers)
| casualties3 = 4 killed
| casualties4 = 1 civilian killed
| notes =
| campaignbox = {{War in Afghanistan (2015–present)}}
}}
The Battle of Darzab was an armed conflict between the Taliban, soldiers of the Afghan armed forces, and fighters of the Islamic State's Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/afghanistan-soldiers-dead-balkh-province/3802678.html|title=Afghan Violence Leaves 13 Afghan, 1 US Soldiers Dead|publisher=VOA News|access-date=6 May 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/News-of-the-Day-From-Around-the-World-11061568.php|title=News of the Day From Around the World|date=10 April 2017 |access-date=6 May 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://menafn.com/1095383868/1-woman-13-militants-killed-in-Jawzjan-clashes|title=1 woman, 13 militants killed in Jawzjan clashes|last=MENAFN|access-date=6 May 2017}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/nearly-100-dead-as-taliban-daesh-clash-in-afghanistan/806034|title=Nearly 100 dead as Taliban, Daesh clash in Afghanistan|website=Anadolu Agency|access-date=6 May 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-islamic-state-taliban-clash-in-afghanistan-dozens-killed-2017-4|title=ISIS in Afghanistan is attacking the Taliban, killing dozens|website=Business Insider |access-date=6 May 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://menafn.com/1095424697/Afghanistan--91-dead-as-Taliban-Daesh-clash-goes-on-in-Jawzjan|title=Afghanistan- 91 dead as Taliban-Daesh clash goes on in Jawzjan|last=MENAFN|access-date=6 May 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/world/around-100-taliban-isis-militants-killed-in-clashes-afghanistan-1999911.html|title=Around 100 Taliban, ISIS militants killed in clashes: Afghanistan|date=27 April 2017|access-date=6 May 2017}}
Aftermath
{{main|Battle of Darzab (2018)}}In 2018, the Taliban launched a major operation to take over the Darzab District and the surrounding districts from IS-KP. The battle was fought for 2 weeks and 6 days until following heavy clashes, IS-KP was defeated, with most of the group's forces in Jowzjan Province killed or captured. 3 out of the 4 IS-KP commanders surrendered to the Taliban. They killed Haji Murad, one of the IS-KP commanders at the battle and who was the Islamic State's deputy commander for Jowzjan.{{cite news |last=Tamkin |first=Hamid |date=23 July 2018 |title=Jawzjan: Senior Daesh leader killed in Taliban attack |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |url=https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/07/23/jawzjan-senior-daesh-leader-killed-taliban-attack |url-status=live |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814035926/https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/07/23/jawzjan-senior-daesh-leader-killed-taliban-attack |archive-date=14 August 2018}}{{cite journal |last=Rahmani |first=Waliullah |date=10 August 2018 |title=The Taliban Takes on Islamic State: Insurgents Vie for Control of Northern Afghanistan |url=https://jamestown.org/program/the-taliban-takes-on-islamic-state-insurgents-vie-for-control-of-northern-afghanistan/ |url-status=live |journal=Terrorism Monitor |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |volume=16 |issue=16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815131601/https://jamestown.org/program/the-taliban-takes-on-islamic-state-insurgents-vie-for-control-of-northern-afghanistan/ |archive-date=15 August 2018 |access-date=15 August 2018}} Taliban commander Mullah Burjan was executed{{cite news |last=Tamkin |first=Hamid |date=18 July 2018 |title=Jawzjan: 250 dead in ongoing Taliban-Daesh clashes |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |url=https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/07/18/jawzjan-250-dead-ongoing-taliban-daesh-clashes |url-status=live |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001202221/https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/07/18/jawzjan-250-dead-ongoing-taliban-daesh-clashes |archive-date=1 October 2018}} and Haji Shakir was killed in action. At the end of the battle, more than 200 militants surrendered to the Taliban.{{fact|date=December 2022}}{{Expand section|date=September 2018}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Afghanistan War}}
{{coord missing|Afghanistan}}
Category:2017 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Battles involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Category:April 2017 in Afghanistan