Afghanistan: Clashes between militants, security forces under way after rockets attack Kabul
Two insurgents have been killed so far.
Multiple rockets landed near the diplomatic area of Afghan capital Kabul in a series of attacks on Tuesday morning. Two insurgents have been killed so far in clashes with security forces that followed, reported TOLOnews. The clashes are still going on.
At least 12 rockets exploded in the area, according to officials. Residents in the area, however, claimed there were 22 explosions.
The attack started at about 9 am (10 am Indian time) when President Ashraf Khani was delivering his message ahead of the Eid-al-Adha festival. The first rocket was fired near the Presidential Palace, and the second near a compound of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the American embassy, according to AP.
Security forces surrounded a house from where they believe the rockets were fired.
“This morning a group of terrorists took over a building in Reka Khana and fired several rockets towards Kabul,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Najib Danish told AFP. “Two people have been wounded. Security are fighting the terrorists.”
Combat Helicopter Fires On Insurgent Hideout In #Kabul City#Afghanistan https://t.co/u9NcaOrD48 pic.twitter.com/5wXicbbzht
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 21, 2018
#Kabul – dust and smoke rises from PD1, near the Eidgah mosque, as combat helicopter fires on insurgents hideout in Kabul city after massive rocket attack #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/hHX3MeFSyC
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 21, 2018
Ghani said in response: “If they are thinking the rocket attack will keep Afghans down, they are wrong.”
In a similar attack on July 24, at least three people were injured in a series of rocket explosions in and around a residential area in Kabul. Five rockets were fired in a 75-minute period.
On Sunday, Ghani had declared a “conditional” ceasefire with Taliban militants ahead of the Eid-al-Adha festival. The ceasefire started on Monday and will be in place for around three months, “provided the Taliban reciprocate”, he had said.
Kunduz hostage situation
Kunduz Provincial council member Ghulam Rabani Rabani on Tuesday said the Taliban had released more than 160 civilian passengers a day after the militant group kidnapped them from three buses, Reuters reported. The militants, however, have held at least 20 soldiers and policemen as captives. Security forces had launched a lightning military operation to rescue the hostages and killed at least seven insurgents during the operation in Khan Abad district.