Taliban tighten grip on Afghan city

Taliban fighters have seized a military hilltop site in Kunduz, tightening their grip on the northern Afghan city. The capture of the Bala Hisar fortress came despite efforts by government reinforcements, backed by NATO airstrikes and special forces, to retake the city. It leaves the airport as the army’s last stronghold. The Taliban overran Kunduz […]

Taliban fighters have seized a military hilltop site in Kunduz, tightening their grip on the northern Afghan city.
The capture of the Bala Hisar fortress came despite efforts by government reinforcements, backed by NATO airstrikes and special forces, to retake the city.
It leaves the airport as the army’s last stronghold.
The Taliban overran Kunduz on Monday, their biggest military gain since they lost power in 2001. The Taliban had blockaded the Bala Hisar fortress for two days.
The nearly 200 Afghan security personnel then abandoned the position after running out of food and ammunition, an Afghan security official told Reuters.
Late on Tuesday the Taliban tried to capture the airport as well, but US air strikes and coalition special forces halted their advance. A special forces commander said the foreign troops – who are in Kunduz in a non-combat role – had acted in “self-defence”.
Clashes went on through the night around Kunduz, and the provincial hospital was reportedly struggling to cope with the number of casualties.