Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slams the EU foreign policy chief's recent remarks about Afghanistan, saying it is regrettable that the bloc is more concerned about Moscow and Beijing supposedly taking control of the situation in the conflict-ridden country rather than the future of the nation itself.

Russian President Putin denounces the West’s policy of sending people who have been evacuated from Afghanistan to countries near Russia, saying he doesn’t want the militants to sneak into the region under the guise of refugees.

Several people are reportedly killed in Afghanistan's northeastern city of Asadabad when members of the Taliban fire on people waving the national flag at an Independence Day rally and spark a stampede.

As the political and security uncertainty in Afghanistan remains far from resolved following the Taliban takeover, world countries are weighing their diplomatic options in dealing with the militant group.

An informed Iraqi security source says the US military is spending lavishly to expand Ain al-Assad air base in Iraq’s western province of Anbar.

A new US military assessment says the Taliban could isolate Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, in 30 days and potentially take it over in 90 days, amid the militants' rapid advances across the war-ravaged country.

The Iraqi Kata'ib Hezbollah resistance movement says it is fully prepared to compel American forces to leave Iraq in humiliation.

Multiple roadside bombs explode near convoys of US-led coalition forces in the Iraqi provinces of Dhi Qar, al-Qadisiyah, as well as Babil.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says the United States is seeking to take root in Central Asia following its withdrawal from Afghanistan, where it has faced a complete failure.

Russia says Daesh militants are moving into Afghanistan from several countries, stressing that it will bolster Tajikistan's military with weapons, equipment, and training amid the "deteriorating" situation in Afghanistan.