Taliban attacks heavily fortified Kandahar airport

Source: ALJAZEERA


At least 14 people and eight Taliban fighters have been killed after an attack on the heavily fortified Kandahar airport compound in southern Afghanistan, officials say.
Taliban forces on Tuesday night attacked buildings housing government employees and military bases at the airport, which is used by Afghan, US and NATO military forces.
Al Jazeera's Qais Azimy, reporting from Kabul on Wednesday, said attackers holed up in a building during the assault took family members of a military officer as hostages.  
Nearby businesses were torched.

Afghan forces try to keep Taliban out

Officials told Al Jazeera that the Taliban fighters used AK-47s and wore military uniforms during the attack, which lasted for several hours.

The official said the homes of Afghan army officials were among those attacked.
A man who was trapped in a building near the airport told Al Jazeera that residents were told to remain inside and take cover, in case Afghan or US-NATO forces mistook them for Taliban fighters.
Al Jazeera's Azimy said the incident was the second major Taliban attack in Kandahar within the past 24 hours.
He said that there will be questions asked as to how the Taliban fighters were able to gain access to one of the most heavily-fortified military compounds in the country.
On Monday night, Taliban forces stormed a Kandahar police station and engaged in a lengthy firefight in which three police officers and two of the attackers were killed, Azimy said.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks.