The Islamic State’s Khorasan province claimed credit for today’s suicide assault that took place at a crowded Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
The Amaq News Agency, an official propaganda arm of the Taliban, said that two “immersers” carried out the assault on the Imam Zaman Mosque.
According to TOLONews, Afghan security personnel battled the jihadists for more than two hours before killing them. Hundreds of civilians were trapped in the crossfire during the fighting. Afghan officials are claiming that more than 30 civilians were killed and at least 80 people were wounded in the attack.
The Islamic State’s Khorasan province, like the main branch in Iraq and Syria, has had no qualms about targeting Afghan civilians, particularly Shiites, in mass-casualty suicide attacks in mosques and other locations. The group does not view Shiites as “proper Muslims” and targets them as viciously as it does Western forces. [See FDD’s Long War Journal reports, Islamic State suicide bomber kills dozens at Kabul mosque and Islamic State continues to target Shiite civilians in Kabul.]
Khorasan province’s last attack on a mosque took place on Aug. 2 in the western city of Herat; at least 29 people were killed and more than 60 were wounded.
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1 Comment
More proof to the people that the government cannot keep them safe. This is what brought on the rise of the Taliban version 1 through “Afghan Pashtunia”. Version 2 will be much easier on the people in order to secure a broader base. Trapped between thieving warlords that take what they want when they want it and IS that demands their children and their lives. The Taliban will look like a soft landing. Taliban 2.0 or Götterdämmerung will eventually be the option. Who will play the part of Dr Najibullah Ahmadzai when Kabul falls?
In case anyone is wondering why Iran might be willing to deal with the Taliban one needs only look at the target of this attack. Figuring out the ‘Gordian’ riddle of Afghanistan is not easy, perhaps not even possible but some easy facts and details keep slapping us so hard in the face.