Kabul airport

Afghan Security Forces have killed all insurgents who attacked Kabul International Airport with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and automatic weapons.

Afghan Army general Afzal Aman was reported by Associated Press as saying that the gunmen seized two under-construction buildings near the airport to fire rockets and gunfire at the airport and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) fighter jets flying over Kabul.

Several rockets landed at the airport but did not cause damage to any of the aircraft, Aman added.

Afghan senior police official Gul Agha Hashimi told Agence France Presse: "The attack is over, and the area is cleared from the insurgents.

"All the insurgents who were holed-up in an under-construction building were killed."

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn attack that forced incoming flights to divert to other Afghan cities.

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Taliban spokesman Zabiuhallah Mujahid said in a statement: "A number of our mujahedeen armed with heavy and light weapons launched an attack on Kabul International Airport."

"All the insurgents who were holed-up in an under-construction building were killed."

No casualties have been reported so far among Afghan security forces or civilians, according to Afghan Interior Ministry.

The heavily guarded airport also houses a number of military bases that are used by the US Armed Forces and Nato-led ISAF troops.

The attack comes as Afghanistan is preparing for an audit of ballot papers from last month’s disputed presidential election, which Taliban has already denounced, the Guardian reported.

Afghan National Army (ANA) and Nato soldiers are transporting approximately 23,000 ballot boxes to Kabul for verification at 100 stations starting today.

Taliban insurgents have attacked the airport previously, which destroyed three Afghan Mil Mi-17 helicopters used for counter-narcotics missions and special operations.


Image: Taliban insurgents attacked Kabul International Airport with RPGs and automatic weapons in the early hours today. Photo: ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Defence Technology