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Taliban assault Afghanistan's Kunduz city from three directions | Taliban assault Afghanistan's Kunduz city from three directions |
(35 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of Taliban fighters have launched an attack on the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz. | Hundreds of Taliban fighters have launched an attack on the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz. |
Militants are attacking from several directions and are reported to have briefly entered a hospital. There are casualties on both sides, police say. | |
Kunduz province has seen a number of attacks since April, with the Taliban joining forces with other insurgents. | Kunduz province has seen a number of attacks since April, with the Taliban joining forces with other insurgents. |
The assault comes a day after a bomb attack on a sports match in the eastern Paktika province killed nine people. | The assault comes a day after a bomb attack on a sports match in the eastern Paktika province killed nine people. |
Monday's attack in Kunduz appears to be one of the most significant mounted on a provincial capital by the Taliban, correspondents say. | Monday's attack in Kunduz appears to be one of the most significant mounted on a provincial capital by the Taliban, correspondents say. |
The Taliban say they have entered a hospital in Kunduz, however local media reports say that they only stayed briefly. | |
Pictures on social media appeared to show fighters taking selfies inside the hospital. | |
Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told Reuters news agency: "Heavy fighting is ongoing in Khanabad, Chardara and at Imam Sahed, the main entrances to the city. We have enough forces and will drive them out." | Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told Reuters news agency: "Heavy fighting is ongoing in Khanabad, Chardara and at Imam Sahed, the main entrances to the city. We have enough forces and will drive them out." |
He said that 20 militants had died in the clashes, with an unconfirmed number of casualties in the Afghan security forces. | He said that 20 militants had died in the clashes, with an unconfirmed number of casualties in the Afghan security forces. |
Kunduz province contains major roads that connect central and northern Afghanistan, including a road to the capital Kabul. | Kunduz province contains major roads that connect central and northern Afghanistan, including a road to the capital Kabul. |
Correspondents say it also supplies half of Afghanistan's rice crop. | Correspondents say it also supplies half of Afghanistan's rice crop. |
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most US and Nato forces last year. | Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most US and Nato forces last year. |
On Sunday, a bomb attack on a sports ground in Paktika left nine dead and dozens injured. No group has said it carried out that attack. | |
Also on Sunday, 300 fighters allied to the so-called Islamic State attacked checkpoints in Nangarhar. | Also on Sunday, 300 fighters allied to the so-called Islamic State attacked checkpoints in Nangarhar. |
Two policemen were reported killed in the assault, while local officials said 60 militants were killed. | Two policemen were reported killed in the assault, while local officials said 60 militants were killed. |