Violence and chaos have spread across Afghanistan, with Taliban militants taking control of nearly half of the 34 provincial capitals in the country as the U.S. winds down its two-decade war in the country. Images from the ground show Taliban troops overtaking cities and the thousands displaced internally.

The bloody fighting has forced 250,000 Afghans to flee their homes since the end of May, with 80 percent of those displaced being women and children, according to the U.N. refugee agency. 

The capital Kabul is not under direct threat, but the U.S. military estimates that the city could come under insurgent pressure within a month.

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