Rockets Land Near Afghan Presidential Palace during Eid Prayers

 

Rockets have landed near the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul during prayers for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, officials and media reports say.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, according to the Reuters news agency, citing local media reports on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.

President Ashraf Ghani continued with the prayers despite multiple loud explosions in the area, TV images showed.

The rockets, fired at around 8am (03:30 GMT) were heard across the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses the palace and several embassies, including the US mission.

Ghani later delivered a speech from an outdoor podium, broadcast on local media.

At least three rockets landed in the Afghan capital as the city marked the start of the Muslim holiday, said Interior Ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanekzai.

“Today the enemies of Afghanistan launched rocket attacks in different parts of Kabul city,” Stanekzai said.

“All the rockets hit three different parts. Based on our initial information, we have no casualties. Our team is investigating.”

Rockets have been aimed at the presidential palace several times in the past, the last being in December.

The attack coincides with a sweeping Taliban offensive across the country as foreign forces wind up a troop withdrawal scheduled to be completed by August 31.

Unlike some previous years, the Taliban did not declare a ceasefire during the Eid holiday this year.

On Monday, 15 diplomatic missions and the NATO representative in Kabul urged the Taliban to halt offensives, just hours after the group and the Afghan government failed to agree on a ceasefire at their talks in Doha.