Afghanistan: the center of Kabul shaken by strong explosions
Smoke rises in the sky after a violent explosion in the center of the Afghan capital on August 3, 2021. AP - Rahmat Gul
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
In Afghanistan, two loud explosions rocked Kabul on Tuesday evening, about two hours apart as fighting rages across the country, less than a month before the total withdrawal of foreign troops.
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A powerful explosion, followed by sporadic gunfire, rocked the center of the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday shortly before 8 p.m.
A plume of smoke was seen after the explosion, coming from an unspecified place near the "Green Zone", a highly fortified area bringing together diplomatic missions and a busy market.
An Afghan security source who requested anonymity told AFP that the explosion occurred near the home of Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi in central Kabul.
“
Don't worry, everything is fine,
” the minister simply tweeted, without further details, about an hour after the explosion.
At least three people were killed and seven others injured, a spokesperson for the health ministry said, adding that clashes continued between attackers and Afghan security forces.
Emergency hospital services said on Twitter that they have so far admitted six people injured in the attack.
A second loud explosion, followed by heavy fire from automatic weapons, was heard in central Kabul about two hours after the first detonation followed by several detonations of lesser intensity.
The origin of the explosions was not immediately known, no precise assessment is available for the moment and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.
They come as clashes have escalated across the country between pro-government forces and Taliban insurgents, who have gained ground.
Civilians caught in the raging fighting
Three provincial capitals face the Taliban offensive.
A military base near the Herat airport came under fire on Tuesday afternoon from mortars launched by the Taliban from the outskirts of the large city in the west of the country.
In the south, the Taliban continue their offensive in the suburbs of Kandahar, the cradle of their movement.
In the Helmand region, in the south of the country, the inhabitants of Lashkar Gah were called on Tuesday to evacuate the city or to hide in their homes, by the army which intends to intervene in the locality, in order to dislodge the Taliban, report our
correspondent in Kabul,
Sonia Ghezali.
The Afghan air force is carrying out air raids in the town of Lashkar Gah.
It will surely even intensify them in the coming days.
With the aim of pushing back the hundreds of
Taliban
fighters
who managed to enter the city.
Hence this call from the Afghan army to the population to leave Lashkar Gah as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Defense in Kabul denies this information which was nevertheless broadcast by local radios according to journalists on the spot.
The Taliban are using the population as human shields, say human rights activists who are alarmed by the situation there for civilians.
In the city center, the Taliban flaunt themselves barefoot, rocket launcher and Kalashnikov on their shoulders, letting their pictures be taken with pride.
Lifeless bodies litter the streets of Lashkar Gah, an Afghan colleague told us.
Thousands of families have fled their villages in districts that fell under Taliban control.
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To read also: Afghanistan: the American and British embassies accuse the Taliban of “massacres” of civilians
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