Battle of Kunduz (2015)

For the 2001 siege, see Siege of Kunduz.
Battle of Kunduz
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Situation on 27 September, after the Taliban had pushed ANA forces back to the airport.
  Controlled by the Afghan National Security Forces
  Controlled by Taliban forces and allies
Date24 April 2015 – 14 October 2015
(5 months, 2 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Kunduz, Kunduz Province, Afghanistan
36°43′43″N 68°52′05″E / 36.728611°N 68.868056°E / 36.728611; 68.868056
Result

Government victory

  • Taliban captures Kunduz on 27 September
  • Government forces launch a counter-offensive
  • Taliban withdraws from Kunduz on 14 October[1]
Belligerents

Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Supported by:
Resolute Support Mission

Taliban
Commanders and leaders
Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani
(President of Afghanistan)
Afghanistan Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai
(Acting Defense Minister)

Afghanistan Sher Mohammad Karimi
(Chief of the General Staff of the Afghan Armed Forces)
United States John F. Campbell

Akhtar Mansoor
(Supreme Commander)

Sirajuddin Haqqani
(Deputy leader)[2]
Mawlawi Salaam[3]
(Disputed)[4] (Shadow governor of Kunduz)
Strength
5,000–7,000+[5][6] 1,500[7] (~500 in initial seizure of Kunduz)
Casualties and losses
Undisclosed[8] 80–200 killed (Afghan government claim; denied by Taliban)[3][9][10]
Killed or Wounded: 848+ civilians (U.N. report)[11]
100,000 displaced (over entire offensive)
Battle of Kunduz (2015) is located in Afghanistan
Battle of Kunduz (2015)
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Kunduz within Afghanistan

The Battle of Kunduz took place from April to October 2015 for control of the city of Kunduz, located in northern Afghanistan, with Taliban fighters attempting to seize the city and displace Afghan security forces. On 28 September 2015, the Taliban forces suddenly overran the city, with government forces retreating outside the city. The capture marked the first time since 2001 that the Taliban had taken control of a major city in Afghanistan.[12] The Afghan government claimed to have largely recaptured Kunduz by 1 October 2015 in a counterattack, although local sources in the city disputed the claim made by government officials.[13][14]

Twelve hospital staff of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and ten patients, including three children, were killed on October 3 by a prolonged series of US airstrikes on Kunduz Trauma Centre, an emergency trauma hospital run by the agency.[15] Thirty-seven people were injured including nineteen staff members.[16]

  1. ^ Armstrong, Paul (14 October 2015). "Taliban exit Afghan city of Kunduz but claims mission was success". CNN. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Taliban emir seeks to reassure residents of Kunduz". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Afghan Forces Make Little Progress in Retaking Kunduz". Bloomberg. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Taliban shadow governor for Kunduz denies reports of his death". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Taliban Takeover In Kunduz Echoes Islamic State Rout Of Mosul". NDTV. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Shaken by Taliban Victory in Kunduz, Afghans Flee Another Provincial Capital". New York Times. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Taliban vow to march on Kabulafter winning fight for key city". The Times. London. 30 September 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. advisers fought alongside Afghans in retaking Kunduz from Taliban". CBC. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Taliban Kunduz attack: Afghan forces claim control of city". BBC. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  10. ^ "AP Exclusive: Taliban Leader Says Afghan Insurgency Strong". ABC News. Associated Press. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  11. ^ "At least 848 Afghan civilian casualties in Kunduz: U.N." Reuters. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference nyt september was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Afghan forces 'regain Kunduz control'". BBC News. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  14. ^ Rubin, Alissa J. (1 October 2015). "Afghan Forces Rally in Kunduz, but Fight Is Far From Decided". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  15. ^ Stokes, Christopher (4 October 2015). "Death toll rises" (Press release). Médecins Sans Frontières.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference MSF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).