Islamic State claims responsibility for rocket, mortar fire on Kabul airport

CAIRO: Six rockets landed near Kabul’s international airport on Wednesday after US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis flew to the Afghan capital for talks, an official said.

The volley of missiles struck near the military section of the airport but there were no casualties or immediate claim of responsibility, interior ministry spokesperson Najib Danish told AFP.



Islamic State claimed responsibility for several explosions that targeted the area in and around Kabul airport on Wednesday hours after U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived in the Afghan capital, the group’s AMAQ news agency said.

The news agency said “infiltrators” used SPG-9 rockets and mortars for the attack. There were no reports of casualties or damage and Mattis was not near the airport when the rockets hit.