Taliban breaches major Afghan city for first time since 2001 with assault on Kunduz

[Geee]

UK Telegraph:

Taliban fighters on Monday seized the northern Afghan city of Kunduz and freed hundreds of prisoners from jail, the first time the group has taken a major city since 2001.

It is the second time this year the Taliban has launched an attack on Kunduz, the scene of a major battle involving Afghan and American troops in the war to rid the country of the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks.

Afghan government forces are now fighting the insurgents there largely without the support of Nato forces.

Taliban gunmen launched their offensive early Monday morning from several positions and by mid-afternoon hoisted their flag over Kunduz's main square, according to witnesses.

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U.S. military launches strike on Kunduz, Afghan city taken by Taliban

 

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. military carried out an airstrike on Tuesday on the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, which was captured by the Taliban the previous day in a major setback to the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

 

On the ground, Afghan forces were regrouping to try and take back this city of nearly 300,000 people — the first urban area seized by the Taliban since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that ousted their regime.

 

The city fell Monday, after hundreds of Taliban gunmen launched a coordinated, multi-pronged attack at several points around the city. After a day of fierce fighting, they managed to overrun government buildings and hoisted their flag in the city square. The fast-moving assault took the military and intelligence authorities by surprise.

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/29/us-military-launches-strike-kunduz-afghan-city-tak/