Kabul, October 2 (RHC)-- In Afghanistan, 11 Americans have died after a U.S. transport plane crashed at the Jalalabad airport, killing six U.S. soldiers and five civilian contractors. Three Afghan civilians also died in the crash.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces backed by U.S. airstrikes and U.S. special operations troops continues to rage in the northern city of Kunduz. The Taliban have reportedly also seized control of the nearby Warduj district.

The Pentagon has confirmed U.S. Special Forces have engaged in gunfire in Kunduz, although it says the troops were acting in self-defense. Obama declared an official end to the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan last year.