Kabul Blast: Two Killed, 3 Wounded As ‘ISIS Rockets’ Hit House Near Airport. What We Know So Far

A massive explosion was reported on Sunday afternoon near Kabul airport in Afghanistan, hours after the US had warned of the possibility of a terror attack. The blast occurred due to airstrikes by the US on a “multiple suicide bombers” vehicle in Khawaja Bughra area. Videos shared on social media showed black smoke rising into the sky and people screaming and running to save their lives.

What we know so far:

• Quoting Afghan Police Chief, Associated Press reported that rocket hits neighborhood northwest of Kabul international airport amid US evacuation.

• According to Afghan media, two people are killed and three injured in the blast.

• Captain Bill Urban, CENTCOM spokesperson said, “US military forces conducted a self-defense unmanned over-the-horizon airstrike today on a vehicle in Kabul, eliminating an imminent ISIS-K threat to Hamad Karzai International airport.”

• The US Central Command spokesperson also said the explosions from the vehicle indicated the “presence of a substantial amount of explosive material”. “We are confident we successfully hit the target. Significant secondary explosions from the vehicle indicated the presence of a substantial amount of explosive material. We are assessing the possibilities of civilian casualties, though we have no indications at this time,” he said.

• Footage of the blast shared around by people on social media showed residents screaming and running to save their lives. Some people were seen throwing water from the rooftops of their houses to douse the flames from the exploded house.

• A security official from the recently deposed government told AFP it was a rocket that “initial information shows hit a house”.

• Taliban spokesman had also said that a US airstrike targeted a suicide bomber in a vehicle who wanted to strike Kabul airport.

• The US officials had warned of the possibility of a terror attack in coming days near Kabul airport and had appealed people to leave the place.

Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Assembly Elections Live Updates here.