At least 8 killed, 30 wounded in Kabul rocket attack

A barrage of rocket strikes hitting residential areas of Kabul killed at least eight people and wounded dozens more as Afghanistan faces fragile peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, confirmed on Twitter that at least eight civilians had been killed and 31 others wounded after a rocket attack, which he blamed on the Taliban, targeted several districts of the Afghan capital city. He warned the information was preliminary and that the figures could change. 

Click Here: COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES 2019

Arian said the group fired off 14 rockets mounted on a small truck.

ADVERTISEMENT

Several residents of the city filmed video of the attack, which showed broken windows in storefronts, buildings with holes in them and debris littering the Kabul streets.

The attack is just the latest in a string of strikes in Afghanistan since peace talks between the government in Kabul and the Taliban stalled, though the armed group has denied any culpability in Saturday’s rocket launches. In an attack earlier this month for which the Islamic State claimed responsibility, several gunmen shot at least 35 people to death when they overran the Kabul University campus. 

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC – Pence, Biden wage tug of war over pandemic plans Overnight Defense: White House suggests stripping Confederate base names in exchange for repealing tech liability shield | Biden faces mounting hurdles to rejoining Iran deal | Military coronavirus cases up Joe Lieberman warns Biden against rushing to rejoin Iran deal MORE is traveling to Qatar Saturday to meet with an Afghan delegation and Taliban negotiators as the U.S. looks to push the two sides toward an agreement. 

“I want to thank our Qatari friends for sharing in the responsibilities – and successes – in our many shared efforts of cooperation,” Pompeo said in a statement regarding his trip. 

The U.S. and the Taliban have already come to a peace accord, which would involve the Pentagon drawing down troops in Afghanistan in exchange for assurances from the Taliban that the country will not be used as a safe haven for terrorists to launch attacks against the U.S. 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpBen Carson says he’s ‘out of the woods’ after being ‘extremely sick’ with COVID-19 Biden will receive @POTUS Twitter account on Jan. 20 even if Trump doesn’t concede, company says Trump to participate in virtual G-20 summit amid coronavirus surge MORE this week ordered troop levels in Afghanistan to be reduced to 2,500 by mid-January.