KUNDCUZ CITY – Afghan National Security forces have retaken parts of Kunduz city, including the main traffic circle, FOLLOWING an overnight operation, local officials said Wednesday.

Sayed Sarwar Hussiani, a spokesman for the Provincial Police Chief, said security forces have been placed in key areas of the city and continue the clearing operation. He said security forces had by Tuesday morning retaken at least 80 percent of the city.

"The Taliban insurgents sustained massive casualties in the past 24 hours," he said.

However, local officials said that there were no casualties among security forces during the operation.

TOLOnews journalist Karim Amini, who is reporting from Kunduz, said about 700 additional reinforcement troops arrived in Kunduz city on Tuesday and have driven insurgents out of Bala Hisar and other areas.

Fierce fighting broke out in the city center around the main traffic circle on Tuesday with insurgents once again lowering the Afghan flag on the roundabout.

Amini says that the Taliban had seized two military tanks and had taken the fight to the streets, making it difficult for the troops to contain them.

Security officials meanwhile said insurgents are still hiding in residents homes; therefore the forces are not taking the chance of targeting them due to the presence of civilians.

Residents are however still paying the price for the ongoing battle. They face severe food and water shortages.

The Kunduz battle has now entered its second week but despite the deployment of reinforcement troops the city has still not been cleared of insurgents. In addition, officials have said that over 6,000 people have been left homeless since the Taliban launched their attack in the early hours of last Monday. (Tolonews)