KABUL, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Sporadic gunfight and explosions rocked western Afghanistan's Farah city overnight with unknown casualties, and a military offensive to completely retake the city from Taliban militants entered its third day, reported local media Tolo News TV on Thursday.

"At least three suicide bombings occurred Wednesday night while militants clashed with security forces around the city and near the provincial police station and the prison building," the report said quoting unnamed sources.

On Tuesday, the Taliban militants launched a multi-pronged attack and tried to take full control of the city, which is the provincial capital of the same name province bordering Iran.

On the same day, the Afghan security forces backed by Afghan air force and U.S. and NATO-led coalition airpower launched a counter-attack, evicting Taliban from most parts of the city.

Sporadic clashes occurred inside and on outskirts of Farah as of early Thursday, according to reports.

The militants were taking position in private houses and buildings and they used civilians as human shields during the clashes, making the situation difficult for security forces to clear the city of the militants.

The report did not detail the possible causalities of the overnight clashes.