KABUL, Afghanistan: The Afghan forces supported by the US military plans are engaged in an operation against the Taliban, aiming at recapturing the northern Kunduz City which fell under the control of insurgents on Monday.
On Sunday night, the Taliban militants attacked the Kunduz City from three directions and took control of military and civil facilities including the 200-bed civil hospital, the police headquarters, schools, markets and some provincial departments.
The Taliban also set free hundreds of prisoners including the group Commanders from the Central Jail after capturing it.
But today, the US military planes conducted air strikes in Kunduz to target the Taliban militants aimed at eliminating a threat to Afghan and coalition forces, according to a NATO statement.
On the other hand, the Afghan security forces also launched a counter-offensive against the Taliban to retake Kunduz City from the insurgents.
The reports said that the Afghan forces have regained control over the Central Jail and the Provincial Police Headquarters which had fallen to the militants.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health said that 16 people have been killed and more than 170 sustained injuries during clashes in Kunduz.
In a statement, the ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said that most of the victims are civilians.