{
  "id": 9443151,
  "title": "Airstrike hits Afghanistan's Kandahar city",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/airstrike-hits-afghanistans-kandahar-city",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T23:53:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1539755/airstrike-hits-afghanistans-kandahar-city"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An airstrike struck the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Thursday, claiming the lives of at least three civilians, a resident reported to AFP. The explosion was heard and witnessed by the local resident who described seeing a fire in the city center. Kandahar, home to the Taliban government's supreme leader, is a rare target for such strikes as they are uncommon in Afghan cities. The attack comes days after a deadly Pakistani bombardment in the border area, which reportedly killed 28 militants according to Pakistan, while the United Nations reported at least three civilian deaths. Both Kandahar and the capital Kabul were hit during the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan in late February, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties reported by the UN mission in Afghanistan. The ceasefire agreed upon in March has not led to a lasting resolution between the neighboring countries. Security issues remain a point of contention, particularly Pakistan's demand for Afghanistan to curb the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group. Islamabad accuses the Taliban government of providing shelter to militants, while the Taliban denies this and claims Pakistan harbors hostile groups and does not respect Afghan sovereignty. The Pakistani strikes on the border area were carried out following an attack on a police headquarters in northern Pakistan that killed at least 31 people, an act claimed by a group linked to the TTP.",
  "summary": "AFGHANISTAN: An airstrike hit the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Thursday, home to the Taliban government’s supreme leader, a resident told AFP.",
  "key_points": [
    "Airstrike hits Kandahar city, killing at least three civilians",
    "Taliban's supreme leader resides in Kandahar, rare target",
    "Ceasefire since March hasn't resolved security issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}