The Afghan Taliban have captured a strategic district in the northern province of Kunduz forcing troops to retreat. The fighters attacked from several directions and government troops were forced to retreat to Kunduz city, which briefly fell to the Taliban last year. The local authorities said a lack of ammunition and reinforcements contributed to the fall of Khanabad district. The Taliban have made gains since international troops officially ended their active fighting role in 2014. Afghan security forces are currently battling the insurgents in nearly half of the country’s 34 provinces.