Kabul: A huge rocket blast was reported near the US embassy in Afghanistan early Wednesday local time just minutes into the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, officials said.
The incident happened just after midnight, and forced employees to take cover inside.
“An explosion caused by a rocket has occurred on compound,” a message said over the embassy loudspeakers.
Officials told the Press that no one was hurt and military personnel eventually gave the all-clear.
The late-night attack came just minutes into the 18th anniversary of 9/11 and days after President Trump decided to call off a secret meeting he had scheduled with leaders of the Taliban.
The terror group vowed Sunday to continue killing US service members — saying the failed talks would “lead to more losses to the US.” They did not immediately claim responsibility for Tuesday’s explosion.
Taliban car bombings led to the deaths of several civilians and two members of NATO last week. A US service member was also killed. Trump has cited his death as the main reason why the US-Taliban talks were called off.
There are currently about 14,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan. Trump has called their continued presence there “ridiculous.”
“We’ve been a peacekeeper there, in a way, for 19 years,” the president told reporters last month. “At a certain point you have to say that’s long enough.”
