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Rockets fired near Afghan president's palace

July 20, 2021

The Interior Ministry and local news reports said the rockets landed near the presidential palace in Kabul. The incident comes during the Eid el-Adha holiday.

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Afghan traffic police stand near a damaged vehicle where rockets were fired from in Kabul
Afghan traffic police stand near a damaged vehicle where rockets were fired from in KabulImage: Rahmat Gul/picture alliance /AP

Rockets landed near the Afghan presidential palace during morning prayers on the significant Eid el-Adha holiday, a live feed on Afghan television showed. 

President Ashraf Ghani continued with prayers despite the noise of loud explosions. Sources told Afghan network Tolo News that three rockets landed near the palace at around 8 a.m. local time. 

There were no immediately reported injuries. The Interior Ministry said the rockets were fired ahead of a speech by President Ghani addressing the nation in the presence of senior Afghan officials to mark the start of the holiday.

"Today, the enemies of Afghanistan launched rocket attacks in different parts of Kabul city," interior ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanikzai told AFP.

Rockets have been fired at the Afghan presidential palace in the past, most recently last December.

Outside the presidential palace in Kabul
Men walk outside the presidential palace before Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani's swearing-in last yearImage: Reuters/M. Ismail

Unlike in previous years, the Taliban did not announce a cease fire to coincide with the Eid holiday this time.

In a voice mail to Reuters, Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied Taliban involvement in the attack. Mujahid said the Taliban was in a "state of defense" during the Eid el-Adha holiday but did not state whether that constituted a cease fire.

Tuesday's attack comes hours after ceasefire talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Kabul in Doha broke down, despite the objections of 15 diplomatic missions and the NATO representative in Kabul.

The incident comes amid a deteriorating security situation, with the Taliban making gains across the country. Several rural districts have already fallen and are now controlled by the Taliban.

US and NATO forces are currently on schedule to complete their withdrawal from the country by August 31.

ar/rc (AFP, Reuters)