(23 Mar 2019) On January 15th 2019 a Taliban suicide bomber killed at least four people and wounded scores when he detonated an explosive-laden vehicle late in the evening in the Afghan capital, officials said.
It was the latest in a relentless wave of near daily attacks by the Taliban, who now hold sway over about half of the country and regularly target Afghan forces.
The violence comes despite stepped-up efforts by the United States to find a negotiated end to the country's 17-year war.
Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said as many as 113 wounded were taken to different hospitals in Kabul after the Monday evening explosion near the Green Village compound, home to several international organizations and guesthouses.
The area has been the frequent target of attacks in the past.
Many foreigners live in the compound, which is heavily guarded by Afghan forces and also private security guards.
Roads to the area remained blocked by security forces through the night and into Tuesday morning.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the attack in a statement to the media, saying it involved five attackers, including the suicide bomber.
The four other attackers engaged Afghan forces in a clash, he said, without elaborating on what happened to them.
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The death toll from a brazen Taliban assault on a military base in eastern Afghanistan climbed to 45, the country's officials said on January 22nd.
As many as 70 people were wounded in January 21st's attack in Maidan Wardak province, according to provincial officials, who also confirmed that most of the victims were military personnel.
There are fears, however, that the death toll is even higher as the base serves as a training centre for a pro-government militia and is run by the country's intelligence service.
Muhibullah Sharifzai, a spokesperson for Maidan Wardak's provincial governor said that three attackers were killed in the incident as well, but didn't elaborated on the total death toll for the attack.
The assault began when a suicide bomber drove a Humvee into the base and detonated his load as he rammed the vehicle into the main building there, officials said.
The building collapsed from the explosion, which likely contributed to the high casualty numbers.
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Several explosions struck March 7th outside a ceremony in Kabul attended by Afghanistan's chief executive and the former president, both of whom were unharmed, officials said.
There was conflicting information as to the casualty figures.
An official with the city's ambulance services, Mohammad Asim, said five people were wounded in the explosions and were taken to local hospitals.
Another official, who was at the ceremony, said seven people were killed and 10 wounded, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk to reporters.
The different accounts on the casualties could not immediately be reconciled.
The ceremony was commemorating the 1995 death of prominent minority Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari, who was killed by the Taliban, with Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai among attendees.
There was no claim of responsibility in the immediate aftermath of the blasts.
However, Nusrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the blasts were due to mortar shells being fired and that one person has been arrested.
Rahimi declined to answer questions on casualties.
Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group stage near-daily attacks across Afghanistan, including in the capital of Kabul.
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A dozen people were injured in the attack.
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