The Taliban took Mazar-i-Sharif (the capital of Afghanistan's Balkh Province) on Saturday.
The insurgents have waged a massive military campaign to capture provincial capitals.
Two major Afghan cities are still under government control: Kabul and Jalalabad.
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As the Taliban have waged a massive military campaign to capture provincial capitals, the fourth-largest Afghan city and last northern stronghold of the government fell to them on Saturday.
The fall of Mazar-i-Sharif (the capital of Balkh Province), means that only two major cities are still under government control: Kabul and Jalalabad in the eastern half of the country.
According to The New York Times, the Taliban took control of the northern city "in less than an hour" after breaking through the city's front lines.
The Taliban took control of the city and quickly fled government security forces and militias, ceding control over to the insurgents.
According to Hashim Ahmadzai (a commander of pro-government militias), "Government forces and popular rebellions all left the capital." "The Taliban took over government and military buildings. There was no resistance."
Insurgents have now taken control of Mazar-i-Sharif and are able to effectively monitor the country's northern, southern, or western regions. They also have their eyes on Kabul, which is the capital of the country.
Although the Taliban have intensified their insurgency in May they were able to take control of most Afghan provincial capitals within a matter of weeks.
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According to The Times the Taliban's fall from the north region was a "devastating blow" to morale in a country that is "stricken with panic".
According to The Times, Balkh Province became "one of most stable provinces in Afghanistan" after the United States invaded Afghanistan 2001.
The strategic location of the region near Uzbekistan's border gave the economy an advantage. However, stability in the region has declined in recent years as Kabul struggled to manage provincial leadership and provide adequate security forces.
President Joe Biden has sought to end the Afghanistan war for almost 20 years.
On Tuesday, the president stressed that Afghans should "fight for their own survival" while the US military is still on track to complete its withdrawal by the end the month.
Biden stated at the White House, "Look, over a trillion dollars was spent over twenty years. We trained and equipped over 300,000. Afghan forces with modern equipment." "Afghan leaders must come together. They have to stand up for themselves and fight for their country.
On Thursday, the Pentagon announced that an additional 3000 troops would temporarily be sent to Hamid Karzai International Airport in order to evacuate personnel and Americans from the US Embassy in Kabul.
