Kabul, October 14 (RHC)-- In Afghanistan, the Taliban have announced their withdrawal from the city of Kunduz, to avoid what they called an "unnecessary waste of ammunition." The Taliban held the city for 15 days after hundreds of militants managed to overtake thousands of government forces.

The Taliban destroyed government buildings and women-run radio stations in Kunduz, stashed weaponry, freed prisoners and reportedly terrorized women in public positions, many of whom fled for their lives.

The bid to oust the Taliban was backed by U.S. airstrikes and Special Operations ground forces. Of the dozens killed in the violence, about half died in a U.S. airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital, which killed 22 medical staff and patients, even though U.S. officials had been informed of the hospital’s coordinates beforehand.

U.S. President Barack Obama, meanwhile, is reportedly rethinking plans to withdraw all but a small number of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and considering leaving up to 5,000 troops there. The Taliban now controls more of Afghanistan than at any point since the 2001 U.S. invasion.