Would it be an act of reprisal barely hidden? The Taliban fired, Saturday, May 7, a series of attacks, including six suicide attacks against government targets in Kandahar, the main city in southern Afghanistan and its former capital, killing at least four dead and 40 injured . The fighting still continued on Sunday around a building described as "complicated" by the local police.
The building is located near the office of the Afghan intelligence servives (NDS). The Taliban said they planned these actions long and did not relate to the death of Osama bin Laden. The office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has seen its share in the Kandahar operation a "revenge" extremists after removal of the head of Al Qaeda.
The rebels, armed with rifles and grenade launchers, went into action around 13 pm local time. They took control of several buildings and attacked the governor's office, who was on duty when the attack began. Then there were ten explosions, including six suicide bombers and four attacks with car bombs, the governor said to the press.
At least two rockets were fired at the building where is the governor's office, told the Zalmay Ayubi, spokesman for the authorities of the province of Kandahar. A few hours later, the governor's office said: "Our security forces have repulsed all the attacks of enemies, but their continued resistance in an area." Soldiers from the NATO force in Afghanistan, ISAF, participated alongside Afghan government forces fighting against insurgents in Kandahar.
A journalist from the was witnessed scenes of chaos: he notably seen ambulances evacuating wounded soldiers as well as exchanges of fire continued in the area. Yusuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman who claimed responsibility for the operation, said "heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy." He said that these attacks were planned there nearly three weeks and were part of the outbreak of the annual spring offensive announced last week.
The Taliban, however, warned Friday that the death of bin Laden killed in Pakistan by U.S. commandos on the night of Sunday to Monday, would give "new impetus" to the fight against Westerners. 
The building is located near the office of the Afghan intelligence servives (NDS). The Taliban said they planned these actions long and did not relate to the death of Osama bin Laden. The office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has seen its share in the Kandahar operation a "revenge" extremists after removal of the head of Al Qaeda.
The rebels, armed with rifles and grenade launchers, went into action around 13 pm local time. They took control of several buildings and attacked the governor's office, who was on duty when the attack began. Then there were ten explosions, including six suicide bombers and four attacks with car bombs, the governor said to the press.
At least two rockets were fired at the building where is the governor's office, told the Zalmay Ayubi, spokesman for the authorities of the province of Kandahar. A few hours later, the governor's office said: "Our security forces have repulsed all the attacks of enemies, but their continued resistance in an area." Soldiers from the NATO force in Afghanistan, ISAF, participated alongside Afghan government forces fighting against insurgents in Kandahar.
A journalist from the was witnessed scenes of chaos: he notably seen ambulances evacuating wounded soldiers as well as exchanges of fire continued in the area. Yusuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman who claimed responsibility for the operation, said "heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy." He said that these attacks were planned there nearly three weeks and were part of the outbreak of the annual spring offensive announced last week.
The Taliban, however, warned Friday that the death of bin Laden killed in Pakistan by U.S. commandos on the night of Sunday to Monday, would give "new impetus" to the fight against Westerners.
- Afghan forces fight Taliban after attacks in Kandahar - The Guardian (08/05/2011)
- "Taliban unable to sustain attacks on Kandahar" and related posts (08/05/2011)
- Taliban stages assault in Kandahar; several hurt (07/05/2011)
- Taliban Attack in Kandahar (07/05/2011)
- Taliban Say Attack Aimed at Controlling Kandahar (07/05/2011)
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