December 12, 2020 Faith Matters

One dead as IS targets Kabul with mortar shells

The so-called Islamic State terror group has attacked the Afghan capital with a barrage of mortar shells, killing at least one civilian and wounding a second.

The extremist group said it was behind the violence on its affiliated Amaq News website, saying it fired 10 Katyusha rockets towards Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Three shells hit the airport early on Saturday morning, slightly damaging a Kam Air aircraft.

Kam Air, which provides domestic and international flights, was Afghanistan’s first privately-owned airline when it began operating in 2003.

A window of one of the aircraft parked at the airport was damaged by a ricocheting piece of a shell, according to an airport official. No-one was hurt and the aircraft was empty at the time.

The 10 shells were fired from a vehicle parked on the northern edge of the capital, with several rounds landing in residential areas of the city.

Afghanistan’s Islamic State affiliate has carried out similar attacks in the past, including last month when it claimed credit for firing two dozen mortar rounds that killed eight civilians and wounded 31.

It also claimed the killing earlier this week of Afghan journalist Malala Maiwand in eastern Nangrahar province.


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