Major battle continues at southern Afghan air field

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — An Afghan official says clashes between security forces and Taliban fighters are continuing at a major airport in southern Afghanistan.

Dawood Shah Wafadar, commander of the Afghan army's 205th division, said Wednesday that at least 18 people, both soldiers and civilians, had been killed in clashes at the Kandahar Air Field. Taliban fighters launched a major attack on the base, which houses both a military and civilian air field, on Tuesday.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi told The Associated Press that the militant group's fighters had killed more than 50 soldiers and destroyed several vehicles and helicopters. Ahmadi's claim could not be independently confirmed and there was no reliable estimate on the number of Taliban fighters killed or wounded.