Hospital Attack in Afghanistan Kills At Least 25

Two explosions struck Kabul in an attack on a large military hospital. Taliban officials stated that seven people had died, but several first-hand encounters reported that the number of deaths from the explosion and subsequent shootouts was much higher. This tragedy marked the end of a series of attacks since the Taliban came to power in August, after a 20-year rebellion.

Local officials and citizens told sources that the attack on the hospital killed 19 people and injured about 50, but Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Taliban administration, told CBS News that three people were injured. He said there were at least seven people, including a woman and one child, along with three Taliban members.

Karimi said five fighters from the ISIS Khorasan or ISISK, a sect in Afghanistan, carried out the attack. Apparently, four people were murdered and one was arrested due to being involved in a gun battle with the Taliban army. A spokesman, however, could not confirm reports that the first explosion was due to the actions of a suicide bomber.

Both ISIS and the Taliban are Sunni Islamic extremist groups, but due to differences in religion and strategic details, they’ve fought for years. ISIS Khorasan, or ISISK, is known as the Afghan franchise and has demanded four major attacks since the Taliban came to power. If such events continue, another war could begin in Afghanistan, drawing global attention and endangering innocent civilians.