Islamic extremists seem willing to do anything, no matter how disgusting and cowardly, to bring their terror to the world — and they don’t care if women and children are caught in the crossfire.
Armed terrorists in Afghanistan staged a coordinated assault on a government security agency in the capital Tuesday morning, killing at least 28 people and wounding more than 320, many of them innocent civilians.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility.
The attack, including a suicide car bombing, appears to have targeted an agency similar to the U.S. Secret Service, providing personal protection for high-ranking government officials.
Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the Kabul police chief, said that at least 28 people were killed in the attack, which began when a suicide car bomber struck near the agency compound’s gates. After the explosion, armed gunmen stormed the compound and waged a prolonged battle with government security forces. Security officials confirmed that the battle has ended.
Ismail Kawasi, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said so far 327 wounded, including women and children, have been brought to area hospitals. An Interior Ministry statement said that dozens of civilians were killed and wounded in the attack. The casualty figures are expected to rise.
“This was one of the most powerful explosions I have ever heard in my life,” said Obaidullah Tarakhail, a police commander who was present when the attack began. Tarakhail said he couldn’t see or hear anything for 20 minutes after the initial explosion. “All around was dark and covered with thick smoke and dust,” he said.
Dozens of civilian apartment buildings, houses, shops and several government buildings were damaged by the car bomb blast.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks recently since announcing the start of their spring offensive last week.
President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement condemning the attack and saying it, “clearly shows the enemy’s defeat in face-to-face battle with Afghan security forces.”
The attack in Kabul comes four days after another attack by Taliban insurgents in northern Kunduz province which was repelled by the Afghan security forces.
Officials in Kunduz said that security has improved in the city and that the Taliban were defeated in other parts of the province, but operations were still underway to clear militant fighters from the rest of the province.
The Taliban held Kunduz for three days last year before being driven out by a two-week counteroffensive aided by U.S.-airstrikes. It was their biggest foray into an urban area since 2001.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Seriously, we defeated Germany and Japan with the most sophisticated militaries in the world in 3 years, 9 months 71 years ago. Both Gulf wars were won in a month. Today we have poor leaders and yes men who wear stars on their shoulders. Today we play games with haters living in the 5th century. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf seems to be the last good general we have had.
Beg to defer. Although Harry S. Truman fought in WW1 and was not a general, he knew how to end a war: bomb the hell out of the enemies. PERIOD.
Yes PattieA Truman saw heavy combat in WWI. When he took office in 1945 FDR’s leadership had Germany defeated and Japan barely hanging on. Truman was great and ended WWII. However, we still have N. Korea bullying us.
All US troops are going to be out of Afghanistan soon, unless our glorious leaders decide otherwise. Is there any doubt what will become of that country? But we can’t babysit them forever. Too much American blood has been spilled and military equipment destroyed. It’s time for these people to decide whether they’re mice or men. They’ll have to do it themselves.
Mice, it would appear. Hopefully, we’ll be leaving behind a good supply of cheese.
That isn’t what Schwarzkopf or Truman, FDR Patton would say.
Barack Hussein Obama, will not put any effort to bomb them and finish the job, but all he want’s to do is pull all troops out. Dont want to kill too many of the Muslims.
Where is Barack Hussein Obama the Blowhard? Must be on another fundraiser, or a golf course, maybe another trip to Cuba who knows. He Oblowhard will not condemn this, all he will do is give another scripted speech from his teleprompter. Not to worry we will take care
of it diplomatically, so as not to cause any more trouble. He isn’t a leader, can’t lead from behind. But it doesn’t bother him he is safe with guards all around him at all times. He is a worthless coward.
Where are you hiding Obama come out from beneath your rock and have some balls to do something for these people who are being murdered because you are just waiting to leave office and critize the next person who will be in the White House. You have been a do nothing president for 8 years so get out and go back to Kenya where you originated from and do the United States a favor take the rest of your cronies with you.
Someone should point out to the people of Afghanistan that the Taliban is pure evil. These people made Afghanistan a place of poverty and misery when they ran the country. After the U.S. drove them from power, our country worked to create the framework to make Afghanistan a place of opportunity, freedom and peace. The Taliban has worked non-stop to return the Afghan people to a place of poverty and misery.
The Afghanis need to route out and kill the Taliban. As long as that evil group remains Afghan will never be able to become a good place. The Taliban, al Qaeda and ISIS are evil groups seeking to make people’s lives short and miserable. This is not the mark of godly people. These groups are aligned with the devil. Their final destination is the lake of fire and brimstone. They may see 72 virgins but they will not be able to get close enough to them to spend eternity fornicating with them. These Muslim terrorists are demons. Those who follow them are buying an eternity in hell.