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Daesh militants attack Iraqi embassy in Afghanistan

August 1, 2017 at 3:01 am

Daesh flag, 30 March 2017 [SpuntnikInt/Twitter]

Four suspected militants were killed in a gun-and-bomb attack on the Iraqi Embassy in capital Kabul Monday, according to senior Afghan and Iraqi officials.

Daesh has claimed the attack.

The Iraqi Embassy is located outside the diplomatic enclave close to the downtown Shahr-e-Nau area, famous for its restaurants and shopping malls. In a rare press event two weeks ago, the embassy had celebrated Iraqi forces’ victory over Daesh in Mosul city in Iraq.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Najib Danish told Anadolu Agency that up to four assailants were involved in the attack at the embassy.

“A suicide bomber blew up himself at the entrance of the embassy while three others made their way in, and started shooting,” Danish said.

The attackers stormed the embassy compound at around 11.30 a.m. local time (0730GMT) and the siege was declared over after around four hours of gunfight, he added.

A special unit of the Afghan National Police (ANP) had reached the site quickly and surrounded the area and rescued the embassy staff.

In a statement, the ministry denounced the incident, calling it an “un-Islamic and inhuman” act.

Danish said the three remaining attackers were killed and only one ANP officer was wounded in the operation. He added all Iraqi diplomats had been safely rescued.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Jamal, however, said two Afghan security officers stationed outside the embassy had been killed in the attack.

Read: US expects Daesh to resurface in new shape after its defeat in Mosul

Jamal confirmed the embassy staff had been temporarily moved to the Egyptian Embassy.

Daesh’s propaganda arm Amaq said two of the group’s members were involved in the attack at the Iraqi embassy building.

Meanwhile, Turkey condemned the attack on the embassy.

In a statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry said: “It is worth to note that this terrorist attack took place in a period when positive results are achieved in the fight against Daesh in Iraq.”

Terrorist attacks cannot undermine the determination of Afghanistan and Iraq in their fight against terrorism, it added.

Despite the Mother-of-all-bombs (MOAB) attack on Daesh bases in eastern Afghanistan in April, the militants continue to carry out terrorist attacks in Kabul. Monday’s attack is the sixth major assault claimed by Daesh in the last eight months in the capital.

#Daesh

Last month, at least six worshipers were killed in a Daesh-claimed attack on a mosque in Kabul. On May 3, Daesh said it carried out a suicide attack in Kabul that killed eight civilians.

Other attacks include an attack on the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan Hospital in March that left up to 50 people dead; a suicide attack on Supreme Court in February that claimed 22 lives, and twin suicide attacks on Shia protesters last year that killed 80 people.