2022 Kabul hotel attack

2022 Kabul hotel attack
Part of the Islamic State–Taliban conflict
Kabul Kabul (Afghanistan)
Location	Kabul, Afghanistan
Date	12 December 2022 (2022-12-12) 14:30 (AFT)
Target	Longan Hotel
Attack type	Bombing, gun attack, and arson
Weapons	Firearms and explosives
Deaths	6 (including 1 assailant)
Injured	18
Victims	Afghan and foreign civilians, Taliban soldiers
Perpetrator	Islamic State – Khorasan Province
Defender	Afghanistan
Motive	Opposition to Taliban cooperation with China

On 12 December 2022, insurgents attacked a hotel popular with foreigners in Kabul, Afghanistan.^[1][2] At least 3 civilians were killed and 18 others, including foreigners, were reported to be injured.^[3][1] Islamic State – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack.^[4]

Background

The Islamic State–Taliban conflict began in 2015; since then they have often attacked Kabul. In September 2022, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Russian Embassy in Kabul, killing two Russian diplomats. In early December, gunmen attacked the Pakistani ambassador at his embassy compound in Kabul, wounding a Pakistani guard.^[5] On 11 December, Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu met Afghan Deputy Foreign minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai to discuss security matters, and called on the Taliban "to pay more attention to the security of the Chinese Embassy in Kabul."^[3][5]

Attack

Around 14:30 local time on 12 December 2022, insurgents attacked the Kabul Longan Hotel in Afghanistan.^[3] Residents reported hearing a powerful explosion followed by gunfire.^[3]

Victims

3 people were killed and 18 injured.^[3][6] Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mojahid confirmed the attack ended with all three gunmen killed, and hotel guests were evacuated.^[6] Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that five Chinese nationals were among the injured.^[6][7]

Responsibility

On 13 December 2022, jihadist group Islamic State-Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack in a Telegram post.^[8] The IS statement claimed the hotel was attacked because the hotel is frequented by diplomats and is owned by "communist China" . The Islamic State has a history of opposition to the Chinese government in relation to the government's persecution of Uyghurs, and has been critical of the Taliban for its willingness to cooperate with China.^[9] The statement claimed the attackers detonated pre-planted explosives and set fire to the building.^[10]

One of the attackers died during the attack while the second attacker, a Tajik national, managed to escape by scaling down the side of the Hotel. This same Tajik IS member would later carry out the 1 January, 2023, suicide bombing at Kabul Airport.^[11]

See also

• List of terrorist incidents linked to Islamic State – Khorasan Province
• List of terrorist attacks in Kabul
• List of massacres in Afghanistan

References

1. "Kabul hotel attack ends as three gunmen killed". Pakistan Today. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
2. Rai, Arpan (12 December 2022). "Explosion, gunshots heard in Kabul as gunmen attack hotel housing foreigners". The Independent. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
3. "Kabul hotel attack ends as three gunmen killed; two foreigners injured". Reuters. 12 December 2022. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
4. Mukhtar, Ahmad (13 December 2022). "Kabul hotel used by China nationals attacked as perceived allies of Afghanistan's Taliban rulers are targeted". CBS News. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
5. Mukhtar, Ahmad (13 December 2022). "Kabul hotel used by China nationals attacked as perceived allies of Afghanistan's Taliban rulers are targeted". CBS News. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
6. Popalzai, Ehsan; Yeung, Jessie (13 December 2022). "3 dead and foreign nationals injured after gunmen attack Kabul hotel". CNN. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
7. Baptista, Eduardo (13 December 2022). Heavens, Andrew (ed.). "Five Chinese nationals were wounded in Kabul hotel attack - Chinese foreign ministry". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
8. Gul, Ayaz (13 December 2022). "China Says Kabul Hotel Attack Injured 5 Chinese Nationals". VOA.
9. Ma, Haiyun (19 October 2022). "Afghan Militants Have China in Their Crosshairs". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
10. Faiez, Rahim (13 December 2022). "China urges citizens to leave Afghanistan after Kabul attack". Associated Press. Islamabad, Pakistan. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
11. "ISKP Claims Suicide Bombing at Kabul Military Airport, Identifies Executor as Surviving Fighter from Chinese Hotel Raid". SITE Intelligence Group. 2 January 2023.