09 May 2018 | 10:07 PM UTC
Afghanistan: IS and Taliban claim deadly Kabul attacks May 9 /update 1
Islamic State (IS) and Taliban claim responsibility for Kabul attacks May 9; at least 7 killed and 17 wounded in attacks
Event
Suspected Islamic State (IS) and Taliban militants carried out two separate attacks in Kabul on Wednesday, May 9, killing at least seven people and wounding 17 others. IS claimed responsibility for an attack on a police station in the Dasht-e Barchi area, while the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack near the Asian Development Bank building in the Shahr-e Naw area. Additional IS and Taliban attacks on security forces are possible in Kabul and elsewhere in the near-term.
Context
Afghanistan faces a persistent terrorist threat from several groups including the Taliban and IS.
On April 25, the Taliban issued a statement announcing the launch of their annual spring offensive, which coincides every year with the arrival of warmer weather that allows militants to move more easily over Afghanistan's mountainous terrain. This year's offensive has been termed the "Al-Khandaq" campaign, named after a legendary battle fought by the Prophet Mohammed in defense of the city of Medina. The terrorist group launched multiple attacks in Badghis, Farah, and Ghazni provinces on April 23 and April 24, killing at least 25 Afghan soldiers and police officers.
Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) is active in Afghanistan and has carried out several attacks in the country in recent months. Notably, IS-KP carried out a suicide bombing attack on a voter registration center in Kabul on April 22, killing at least 69 people and wounding around 120 others. An IS-KP suicide bomber also struck the Shi'a Kart-e-Sakhi shrine in Kabul on March 21, killing at least 33 people and wounding 65 others. On April 30, 26 individuals died in a series of terror attacks including several reporters.
Advice
The security environment in Afghanistan remains complex. Although travel is possible in some areas with proper security protocols in place, other areas should be considered strictly off-limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.
