The Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan’s second biggest city Kandahar. The takeover came within hours of rebels seizing the country's third largest city, Herat on Thursday. 

The capture of two of three of Afghanistan’s biggest cities is theTaliban's biggest military victory since they began a broad offensive in May.
Now they’re focusing on taking control of the capital city - Kabul.

The U.S. is sending 3,000 troops to Kabulto help airlift American personnel and local allies out of Kabul. Pentagon officials say the troops will be made up of Marines and Army soldiers.

But that their deployment is temporary and not a combat mission.

Thousands of other troops will be moved to bases in Qatar and Kuwait.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the additional troops are a reserve force on standby “in case we need even more” than those being sent to Kabul.

Britain is deploying hundreds of military personnel to help get British nationals and local translators out of the country. Other embassies and aid groups said they also were getting their people out.

Some media analysis shows the Taliban now controls half of Afghanistan’s provincial capitals. Afghan government forces are still in control of Kandahar's airport.

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