Taliban fighters are continuing to reinforce a key southern town against an expected NATO offensive more than a week after taking it over, ending a controversial four-month truce. More than 1,500 villagers have fled the town of Musa Qala, in the Taliban heartland, in fear of renewed fighting. “More than 300 fighters are in Musa Qala,” senior Taliban commander Mulla Hayatullah Khan said from a secret base on Sunday. “They have been alerted and military supplies are being provided from The Taliban decided to take Musa Qala after the brother of the local Taliban commander was killed in a NATO airstrike, locals say. The commander, Mullah Ghafour, was himself killed in another airstrike soon after the takeover. NATO says the retaking of Musa Qala is up to the Afghan government and will be done when and how Kabul decides. However, military analysts say the assault will be led by foreign troops and officers.
Separately, a member of the US military died of a gunshot wound in northern Afghanistan on Sunday in an incident under investigation by military authorities, a US military statement said. The service member died in Balkh province, the military said.