IS claims attack on Iraqi embassy in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (Kurdistan 24) – The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for an explosion that targeted the Iraqi embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday morning.

Three militants breached the compound after a fourth IS member detonated himself in a car outside the embassy gate, according to reports.

Najib Danish, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s interior ministry, said embassy personnel was evacuated immediately following the sounds of explosions and gunfire.

“There is no threat to the ambassador and the employees of the embassy,” Danish said. “They were taken to a safe place.”

The spokesman described the incident as “a terrorist attack.”

Witnesses and police near the embassy said they heard at least five explosions as well as gunfire.

No injuries have been reported.

The extremist group took responsibility for the attack on their propaganda news outlet Amaq, where the headline “[IS] attack the Iraqi embassy in the Afghan city of Kabul” was posted without further detail.

US and Iraqi security officials have warned the militant group will conduct attacks abroad as they lose grip on their remaining strongholds in both Iraq and Syria.

Kabul has been the target of violence in recent weeks.

At least 24 people, a majority of them employed by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines, were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber detonated their explosives vest in the area.

Last month, nearly 150 people died when a truck bomb exploded near the German embassy.

According to the United Nations, at least 220 people have died with over 1,000 injured in Kabul due to violent attacks.

Editing by G.H. Renaud