In the capital of
Kabul, many foreign embassies are located in the so-called "Green Zone" of the capital. Since
NATO took control of the ISAF in 2003, their headquarters is also in the Green Zone.
Major General Carsten Jacobson, the spokesperson for the
International Security Assistance Force, said that militants attacked the
United States,
German, and
British embassies in Kabul. The
Iranian embassy was also attacked, as was the newly built Kabul Star hotel. The governor of
Laghman Province,
Lutfullah Mashal, said that men plotted to kill
Karim Khalili, the second
Vice President of Afghanistan. The British SBS were crucial in fighting the terrorists. Norwegian special forces from the
Hærens Jegerkommando was crucial in fighting back the attack. Throughout the offensive on the embassies and government buildings in Kabul, members of the
Afghan military,
Afghan National Police, and
National Directorate of Security repelled attacks from the Taliban, including suicide bombers. During early Monday morning, NATO helicopters searched for militants hiding in buildings near the ISAF headquarters and multiple embassies. The attack on Kabul lasted 18 hours. At the end of the siege on Kabul, almost 40 militants and eight Afghan soldiers were killed. In addition, four civilians were killed and 25 were injured across the country. The Taliban militants reportedly wore
suicide vests and carried both
rocket-propelled and
hand grenades. A lone suspected attacker captured by Afghan forces reportedly confessed Taliban assailants who waged the co-ordinated attacks across Afghanistan were part of a 200-member suicide squad trained in
Pakistan. According to Taliban spokesperson
Zabiullah Mujahid, the attacks were "well-coordinated and planned for almost two months". == Aftermath ==