‍The Taliban have taken control of the strategic district of Sangin in southern Afghan’s Helmand Province on Thursday, according to local media.

The Afghan National Army withdrew from the district, after many soldiers died defending the area. The district police and governor's headquarters in Sangin are now in militant hands, the Afghan military has confirmed.

Sangin district was the site of conflict over four years from 2010 to 2014, and saw many battles between Taliban fighters and US Marines and British servicemen, leaving many killed and wounded in action.

Statistics show the territorial area controlled by Afghan government forces has decreased since the US withdrew its main force from Afghanistan.

The overall territorial area controlled by government forces fell from 72 percent to 57 percent in 2016. According to US estimates, almost half of the country is now controlled or contested by the Taliban.