DHAKA: Ten Taliban fighters have been killed after staging an attack on the heavily-fortified Kandahar airport compound in southern Afghanistan, officials told media.

Simultaneously on Tuesday night, Taliban forces attacked both residential blocks housing government employees and the military bases at the airport, which are used by Afghan, US and NATO military forces, reports the Al jazeera.

Nearby businesses were also torched.

Along with the Taliban fighters - who officials say have all been killed - there are a number of military and civilian casualties. Officials have not yet released details.

Afghan forces try to keep Taliban out

Officials told Al Jazeera that the Taliban fighters used AK-47s and were wearing 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 Qais Azimy, reporting from Kabul, said Tuesday night's 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.

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attacks.

BDST:  0825 HRS, DEC 09, 2015
RS