The Taliban have launched large scale attacks from several directions on the eastern Kunduz city early this morning, local officials said.
Mawlawi Abdullah, a MP from the province, told Etilaat-e-Roz that heavy clashes between the Taliban militants and the Afghan forces were underway in the city.
Describing the situation as concerning, he added that civilians have also suffered casualties as result of clashes between the two warring sides.
Meanwhile, Rohullah Ahmadzai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, said that “many parts of the city were cleared” from the presence of the militants. He noted that the Taliban were using health facilities and civilians as shield. Ahmadzai underlined that operations were underway to push the Taliban out of the area.
“The reinforcement has already been sent from other provinces to Kuduz,” Ahmadzi said.
He also said that 26 Taliban militants were killed in airstrikes conducted by the Afghan forces in the city.
Fawad Aman, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, says that as many as 32 Taliban militants have surrendered to the Afghan forces.
Hours after Taliban offensive, Spokesperson for President Ghani, Sediq Sediqi, tweeted that the Afghan security forces were repelling the attack on some parts of the city.
“Their [security forces’] top priority is to protect civilians,” Sediqi noted, adding that “as always the Taliban have taken positions in civilian areas.”
Meanwhile, some reports indicate that the Taliban have captured Kunduz regional hospital.
Kunduz is a strategic province, and it is the third time, it came under Taliban offensives.
