Both the Taliban and the Islamic State have claimed responsibility for an attack on Kabul's international airport reportedly intended to hit visiting Defense Secretary James Mattis. Fortunately, both Mattis and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg were in the Afghan capital at the time of the attack.
Reports claim that up to 45 rockets and rocket-propelled grenades were fired near a passenger terminal at Kabul's Hamid Karzai international airport, a little less than two hours after the Defense Secretary had arrived.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid reportedly said that Mattis was indeed the target of the attack. Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said that five people were injured with one in critical condition, but that none were U.S. personnel.
Danish also confirmed that the three attackers were killed by Afghan special forces near the airport. Other media reports in the area, citing Kabul Airport Chief Yaqub Rassouli, claimed that some airplane hangers and some helicopters were damaged.
According to CNN, Mattis learned about the incident through a few press reports, responding, "An attack on an airport anywhere in the world is a criminal act by a terrorist."
The Defense Secretary added, "If, in fact, this is what they have done, they will find the Afghan Security Forces continuing on the offensive against them in every district of the country right now."
This attack comes as Mattis tours several nations following the Trump administration's announcement that 3,500 U.S. troops will be sent to Afghanistan join the already 11,000 active duty members on the ground.
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