Afghan security forces recaptured key areas of the northern city of Kunduz from the Taliban Thursday, say government officials.
According to Reuters, the NATO-trained Afghan army launched a major operation in the nation’s fifth largest city Thursday night, though further details are still unclear.
“Afghan security forces got control of Kunduz city from Taliban overnight after heavy fighting,” Hamdullah Danishi, acting governor of Kunduz, told Reuters. “After we got reinforcement and started a massive operation inside Kunduz city, Taliban could not resist and escaped.”
He added that a full report would be released “soon.”
Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi wrote on Twitter: “It is retaken and being cleared from terrorists, heavy casualties to the enemy.”
On Monday, Taliban militants seized control of comparatively affluent Kunduz in what was the organization’s biggest victory since it was ousted from government in 2001.
Afghan forces have been battling against the insurgents with the help of U.S. air strikes.
[Reuters]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Helen Regan at helen.regan@timeasia.com