Defense & Intelligence Policy, Business and Technology

Insurgents attack Kabul airport during visit by Mattis; U.S. airstrike hits civilians

The Washington Post: KABUL — Insurgents fired mortars and detonated suicide vests Wednesday in an attack targeting Kabul’s international airport during a visit to Afghanistan by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and U.S. forces responded with an airstrike that inadvertently caused civilian casualties, authorities said.

According to the U.S.-led NATO mission in Afghanistan, insurgents used civilians as human shields during the assault, in which they “fired several rounds of high-explosive ammunition, including mortars,” into the airport area. A statement by the Resolute Support mission provided no details on the number of insurgents or casualties.

It said U.S. forces conducted an airstrike to help an Afghan unit end the assault. “Tragically, one of the missiles malfunctioned, causing several casualties,” it said. “Resolute Support deeply regrets the harm to non-combatants.” No further information on the strike or its consequences was immediately available.

Read article