A rocket exploded at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan just minutes after the date changed over to Sept. 11.
“An explosion caused by a rocket has occurred on compound,” rang the message over embassy loudspeakers as a plume of smoke was seen rising above central Kabul. No injuries were reported from the blast and an all-clear was given about an hour after the rocket went off, according to the Associated Press.
The rocket explosion marks the first attack in Kabul since President Trump called off talks between the United States and the Taliban over the weekend. Last week, the Taliban detonated two car bombs that killed several Afghan citizens and a U.S. service member. Trump cited the soldier’s death as to why the talks are now on ice.
The U.S. still has about 14,000 service members in Afghanistan, down from a peak of 100,000 during the war in Afghanistan. The U.S. invaded the Taliban-controlled country in October 2001 after it was determined that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was behind the attacks that killed about 3,000.
Ministry of Interior spokesperson says a rocket fired from an unknown location hit the exterior wall of the Defense Ministry (next to US Embassy) #kabul #Afghanistan
RT @JaneFerguson5 pic.twitter.com/kdyvI2rEd7— Outlook-Afghanistan (@Humayoonbabur) September 10, 2019
