TEHRAN (Iran News) – Suicide bombers struck an attack on the main US military base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring scores in a major attack that could scupper plans to revive peace talks between the United States and the Taliban. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on US […]
TEHRAN (Iran News) – Suicide bombers struck an attack on the main US military base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring scores in a major attack that could scupper plans to revive peace talks between the United States and the Taliban.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on US military base, which hit the Bagram airbase north of Kabul, Reuters reported.
“First, a heavy-duty Mazda vehicle struck the wall of the American base,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman. “Later several mujahideen equipped with light and heavy weapons were able to attack the American occupiers.”
Abdul Shukoor Qudosi, the district governor of Bagram district, said 87 people were injured and one woman was killed, and that a clearance operation was still ongoing.
The majority of casualties are reportedly Afghans.
“A 30-minute clash also happened between the attackers, who obviously wanted to enter the base, and foreign forces,” said Wahida Shahkar, a spokeswoman for the governor of Parwan Province, which includes the Bagram district.
Two attackers detonated vehicles laden with explosives at the southern entrance to the base, while five more opened fire. It was not immediately clear how many of the five gunmen were killed, Shahkar said.
A medical base being built for locals was badly damaged, the coalition of foreign forces in Afghanistan said in a statement. The Taliban denied this.
US President Donald Trump called off talks with the Taliban in September after an attack by the group killed an American soldier.
However, after three months the Taliban and the American negotiators resumed talks in Qatar.
The Taliban control more territory than at any point since being ousted from power by US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
- source : Iran Daily, Irannews
