A battle broke out Saturday between NATO forces and Taliban insurgents near Kabul, Afghanistan, an area that has so far been considered a relatively peaceful part of the country.

The fighting occurred when NATO forces attacked a suspected insurgent compound, with battles continuing into Saturday.

Afghan authorities reported that at least 12 people were killed in the attacks.

The fighting broke out near Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

According to reports, NATO troops backed by air support attacked a compound where eight to 10 suspected insurgents were holed up, on Friday.

There is no word yet on the nationality of the NATO troops involved in the fighting, but they are likely American based on the location. The majority of Canada's troops are stationed in Kandahar province in the south of the country.

The fighting in what is considered a relatively peaceful region may mark a shift in Taliban tactics, said CTV's Steve Chao, reporting from Kandahar.

Recently, the Taliban stated its intention to launch a campaign against Kabul rather than lay low over the winter months, when fighting usually subsides.

Their goal, Chao said, is to take control of roads and provinces surrounding Kabul to make life difficult for NATO forces and "'tighten the noose' in their words, to try and push NATO forces out of Afghanistan," he said.

Thus far, NATO's most intense efforts have been focused on southern Afghanistan, the Taliban heartland where most Canadian troops are serving.

In other recent fighting, nine militants were killed and 30 were wounded in a NATO air strike in Helmand province on Thursday, according to an Afghan Defense Ministry statement.

And on Friday, militants struck a supply convoy on its way to a NATO base in Khost province. Two Pakistani drivers were killed and one Afghan driver was wounded, according to reports.

Photographer freed

An Italian photographer who was kidnapped in Afghanistan last month and was freed Friday, returned home on Saturday.

Relatives and officials greeted the photographer, Gabriele Torsello, at Rome's Ciampino airport.