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209th Corps (Afghanistan)

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209th Corps
Emblem of the 209th Corps
Active23 September 2004
[1]–14 August 2021[2][3]
Country Afghanistan
Branch Afghan National Army
TypeCorps
HeadquartersMazar-i-Sharif Province, Afghanistan[4]
Nickname(s)Shaheen (Falcon)[5]
EngagementsWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Commanders
Last commanderGeneral Zabihullah Mohmand[6]
Insignia
Corps Flag

The 209th 'Shaheen' (Falcon) Corps was a corps, or military district, of the Afghan National Army. Its headquarters, Camp Shaheen, was at Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province.[7] It worked closely with the German-led Resolute Support Mission TAAC North, and had its 1st Brigade at Mazar-i-Sharif and a Second Brigade at Kunduz. A United States Army Corps of Engineers solicitation for Kunduz headquarters facilities for the Second Brigade was issued in March 2008.[8] The corps was supported by the Mazar-i-Sharif Regional Support Squadron of the AAF, equipped with eight helicopters: four transport to support the Corps' commando battalion, two attack, and two medical transport helicopters.[9] In October 2015, as a response to the Battle of Kunduz, reports came that a new division would be formed in the area.[10]

During the Taliban offensive in 2021, the Corps was charged with the security of Northern Afghanistan. On 14 August 2021, the Corps along with its commander, Zabihullah Mohmand, surrendered to the Taliban.[2][3][11]

2017 Camp Shaheen attack

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Main article: 2017 Camp Shaheen attack

On 21 April 2017, Taliban fighters attacked Camp Shaheen killing at least 160[12] Afghan soldiers and wounding many others. This made the attack the bloodiest in the conflict with the Taliban since 2001 when they were removed from power.[13]

Taliban offensive in 2021

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Further information: 2021 Taliban offensive

During the Taliban offensive in 2021, the Corps was charged with security of northern Afghanistan. On 9 August, the Corps had its commander replaced by General Zabihullah Mohmand and it was tasked with defense of Mazar-i-Sharif, which was the only city under the control of government in Kabul in Northern Afghanistan.[6] On 14 August, the Corps along with its commander surrendered to the Taliban.[11] The pro-government militia also surrendered and the two long-time anti-Taliban warlords, namely Abdul Rashid Dostum and Atta Muhammad Nur fled to Uzbekistan. Abas Ebrahimzada, a lawmaker from the Balkh province, said that in Mazar-i-Sharif, the national army surrendered first which caused the pro-government militia and other forces to lose morale and surrender in the face of Taliban assault on the city.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Building an army for Afghanistan". Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Taliban encircling Afghan capital Kabul, prepping final assault through east | FDD's Long War Journal". www.longwarjournal.org. 14 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Seir, Ahmad; Akhgar, Tameem; Faiez, Rahim; Krauss, Joseph (14 August 2021). "Taliban capture key northern city, approach Afghan capital". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  4. ^ Radin, CJ. "Afghan National Army (ANA)" (PDF). The Long War Journal.
  5. ^ Pike, John. "Afghan National Army (ANA) - Order of Battle". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b Trofimov, Yaroslav; Shah, Saeed (10 August 2021). "Afghanistan Calls for Taliban Sanctions as Militants Capture More Territory". Wall Street Journal. The commander of the 209 Afghan Army Corps based in the city was replaced by Gen. Zabihullah Mohmand overnight, the military said.
  7. ^ "209 Shaheen Corps". Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  8. ^ FedBizOpps.gov, 38—Y—Construction Services for the Second Battalion, 209th headqauters facilities, ANA Kunduz Installation Phase II, Kunduz, Afghanistan. Retrieved August 2009.
  9. ^ Afghan National Army Air Corps: February 2009 Update – The Long War Journal Archived September 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Marty, Franz J. (10 February 2016). "Isolated Outposts: Badakhshan sitrep". Jane's Defence Weekly. 53 (6). ISSN 0265-3818.
  11. ^ a b Mayar, Abdul Hadi (26 August 2021). "Afghanistan: Sanity in Surrender". Daily Times.
  12. ^ Mashal, Mujib; Cooper, Helene (24 April 2017). "2 Top Afghanistan Military Officials Resign After Taliban Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  13. ^ Mashal, Mujib; Rahim, Najim (22 April 2017). "'A Shortage of Coffins' After Taliban Slaughter Unarmed Soldiers". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2017.


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