Happening right now: Taliban launch coordinated attacks on targets across Afghanistan
65 replies, posted
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17719956[/url]
[quote=BBC News][b]Militants are carrying out what they say are co-ordinated attacks on Kabul and other targets in Afghanistan.[/b]
A Taliban spokesman said fighters were attacking embassies in the diplomatic enclave, Nato's HQ and the parliament building in the west of the capital.
Multiple blasts and gunfire have been heard across Kabul.
The Taliban spokesman said there were also attacks in Logar and Paktia provinces. There are also reports of suicide attacks in Jalalabad.
Nato said it had reports of attacks in seven locations in Kabul but there were no reports as yet of any casualties.
The British embassy was one of the targets, with two rockets hitting a guard tower. A rocket-propelled grenade was also fired into a house used by British diplomats, witnesses told Reuters.
[b]Smoke billowing[/b]
At least seven large explosions were heard in central Kabul and gunfire erupted from various directions in the heavily barricaded diplomatic zone.
Residents were reportedly running for cover and sirens wailing in the Wazir Akbar Khan district.
Some explosions were also heard near the parliament building in western Kabul and police said it was under attack.
Reuters said a number of MPs had joined the fight against insurgents, quoting Kandahar lawmaker Naeem Hameedzai Lalai as saying: "I'm the representative of my people and I have to defend them."
Rockets were reportedly fired at the Russian embassy and smoke was said to be billowing from the direction of the German embassy.
The US embassy confirmed there were attacks nearby. It said: "The embassy is currently in lockdown... all compound personnel are accounted for and safe."
Britain's Foreign Office said it was "in close contact with embassy staff".
The Agence France-Presse news agency reported that the newly built Kabul Star hotel was on fire.
Kabul resident Idris Ghairat, who lives near the hotel, told the BBC: "I can see the smoke rising. The fighting is around us and I have heard the blasts and gunfire. The security forces have taken position on top of all government buildings close to the hotel."
Another attack appeared to target a Nato base known as Camp Warehouse on the outskirts of the city, where Turkish and Greek Nato forces were trying to repel militants.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says there are also reports of a suicide attack that has closed the centre of the eastern city of Jalalabad.
Police said suicide bombers had attacked the airport there.
Abdulhadi, who works for the World Food Programme in Jalalabad, told the BBC: "The US air base was under attack. We heard loud explosions and had to take cover in a bunker."
Militants also took over a government building in Pul-e-Alam, capital of Logar province, police said, and a gun battle was under way.
A gun battle was also taking place in Gardez, capital of Paktia province, where militants had taken over another building.
There is normally a surge in the number of Taliban attacks at this time of year following a relative lull in winter, when militants find it more difficult to move around.[/quote]
[b][url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17720617]BBC live coverage[/url][/b]
Shit, I take it we're responding in kind?
This reminds me of the Tet offensive in Vietnam. Though, it seems to be somewhat on a smaller scale.
[QUOTE=General Stanley;35579802]This reminds me of the Tet offensive in Vietnam. Though, it seems to be somewhat on a smaller scale.[/QUOTE]
I was gunna say that...
Well if it is like the tet offensive it means that the Taliban will be all but finished afterwards.
This is their renewed Spring Offensive apparently, and attacking the Russian Embassy? What does that actually achieve aside from pissing off the Russians?
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;35579830]This is their renewed Spring Offensive apparently, and attacking the Russian Embassy? What does that actually achieve aside from pissing off the Russians?[/QUOTE]
If it was done to show that they aren't scared of any one, then pissing off the Russians was a really dumb idea.
[QUOTE=General Stanley;35579802]This reminds me of the Tet offensive in Vietnam. Though, it seems to be somewhat on a smaller scale.[/QUOTE]
This is completely different, they're attacking civilian targets, not US or NATO troops.
[QUOTE=The mouse;35579811]I was gunna say that...
Well if it is like the tet offensive it means that the Taliban will be all but finished afterwards.[/QUOTE]
Well if it is like the tet offensive it means that the Taliban will have greatly discredited our ability to actually protect anyone over there.
[QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;35579977]This is completely different, they're attacking civilian targets, not US or NATO troops.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE] A Taliban spokesman said fighters were attacking embassies in the diplomatic enclave, Nato's HQ and the parliament building in the west of the capital.[/QUOTE]
Embassies were attacked during the Tet offensive.
[QUOTE=D3vils Buddy;35579850]If it was done to show that they aren't scared of any one, then pissing off the Russians was a really dumb idea.[/QUOTE]
Wont be long till Putin comes down and grabs them all by the neck and says "look, Look over there, You see that smoldering pile of ruins way off in the distance?, That's Chechnya, You don't want to be Chechnya."
[QUOTE=goon165;35580043]Wont be long till Putin comes down and grabs them all by the neck and says "look, Look over there, You see that smoldering pile of ruins way off in the distance?, That's Chechnya, You don't want to be Chechnya."[/QUOTE]
Yup. I'm going to hell for laughing.
[QUOTE=General Stanley;35579802]This reminds me of the Tet offensive in Vietnam. Though, it seems to be somewhat on a smaller scale.[/QUOTE]
That'd be a good thing, in a way. The Tet Offensive was a huge strategic failure that severely crippled the NVA's capabilities.
Unfortunately for us it was a victory propaganda-wise to them as people back home didn't realize or care that victory was closer than ever and had us pull out anyway.
[QUOTE=D3vils Buddy;35579850]If it was done to show that they aren't scared of any one, then pissing off the Russians was a really dumb idea.[/QUOTE]
On the other hand, even if the Russians got totally buttmad about it, they too have failed in their invasion of Afghanistan, I don't think they want to do it again.
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;35580194]On the other hand, even if the Russians got totally buttmad about it, they too have failed in their invasion of Afghanistan, I don't think they want to do it again.[/QUOTE]
They could allow NATO to transport equipment, supplies, and troops through Russia into Afghanistan.
good to see that getting rid of x amount of taliban leaders worked
There are no wounded as of now.
[QUOTE=VengfulSoldier;35580383]There are no wounded as of now.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]1445: According to unverified report, from Afghan broadcaster channel Shamshad TV, eight people were wounded, and two militants killed, in the attack in the eastern city of Gardez, in Paktia.[/QUOTE]
It's unverified, but you never know.
[QUOTE]1449: Afghan security officials in Logar province tell the BBC a "serious gun battle is still going on.'' Three police, three intelligence officers and three Afghan National Army soldiers have been injured. They add: ''Three suicide attackers have been killed, and rocket propelled grenades and AK-47s have been seized from them."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;35580158]That'd be a good thing, in a way. The Tet Offensive was a huge strategic failure that severely crippled the NVA's capabilities.
Unfortunately for us it was a victory propaganda-wise to them as people back home didn't realize or care that victory was closer than ever and had us pull out anyway.[/QUOTE]
Considering there is a timetable (at least here in the UK) to pull out by 2014, the real question is whether the Afghan forces can cope handling their own security.
I would argue the war for hearts and minds at home has already been lost in the west.
Taliban are really, really dumb. Why won't they just go away? :<
Oh dear.
[QUOTE=CMB Unit 01;35580473]Taliban are really, really dumb. Why won't they just go away? :<[/QUOTE]
Technically we are in their home.
That doesn't make their medieval doctrine right mind you.
provoking the russians is a bad and a stupid idea
i'm sure they know what happened in 1979
Oh god, I hope my friend is okay.
[QUOTE=Griffster26;35580545]Oh god, I hope my friend is okay.[/QUOTE]
I have a brother in law over there too. He's an airborne mortar-man so I think he'll be fine since he isn't in any of the cities. Also I hope your friend is ok too.
[QUOTE=SonicHitman;35580534]provoking the russians is a bad and a stupid idea
i'm sure they know what happened in 1979[/QUOTE]
And 1941... And 1812.
[QUOTE=An Armed Bear;35580877]And 1941... And 1812.[/QUOTE]
What
[QUOTE=CMB Unit 01;35580473]Taliban are really, really dumb. Why won't they just go away? :<[/QUOTE]
Underestimating their capabilities is even stupider. Make it through a deployment and come tell me if you still think they're stupid.
[QUOTE=SonicHitman;35580534]provoking the russians is a bad and a stupid idea
i'm sure they know what happened in 1979[/QUOTE]
They got thousands of weapons and millions in money from the Russians?
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;35579830]This is their renewed Spring Offensive apparently, and attacking the Russian Embassy? What does that actually achieve aside from pissing off the Russians?[/QUOTE]
I've heard stories about rural militants who tought the Americans were a second Russian invasion. But it's probably that a lot of better educated Afghans are still pissed at the Russians for invading them in the 80's.
[QUOTE=smurfy;35580948]What[/QUOTE]
Unternehmen Barbarossa and Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Both basically ended the regimes that attacked.
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