The Islamic State jihadist group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday, saying 30 people were killed or wounded, contradicting Taliban casualty counts.
Islamic State, which claimed the second attack in Kabul in little more than a week, would contradict the Taliban’s casualty count, which had indicated that no foreign nationals had been killed, according to Rita Katz, director of SITE Intelligence Group, an organization specializing in tracking terrorist groups.
After the claim, the group released images of the two attackers, as well as a video in which they swear allegiance to the new leader, since their predecessor had died in mid-October during a Free Syrian Army operation in the Syrian province of Daraa, according to the spokesman of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Joe Buccino.
The Taliban confirmed Monday that two people were wounded after an attack by unidentified gunmen on a hotel in the Afghan capital.
Taliban spokesman and Afghan Deputy Information Minister Zabihullah Mujahid said that «the attack on a hotel in Kabul has resulted in the death of the three attackers.» «All guests have been saved and no foreigners have been killed. Two foreign guests have been injured after jumping from a rooftop,» he added.
The event comes a day after Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Mohamad Abas Stanikzai met in Kabul with Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu to assure him that the Taliban guarantee the safety of diplomatic representatives and facilities in the country following the recent attacks on the Pakistani and Russian embassies.
