The Taliban launched a fierce offensive from three directions on Kunduz just after dawn, raising fresh fears parts of the provincial capital could fall into their hands.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on Twitter that miltants had seized a hospital in a district in the south of the city, Reuters reported.

A police official, who declined to be identified, confirmed that a government-run hospital had fallen into insurgent hands but had no further details.