Rockets land near Afghan presidential palace during Eid prayers

Abdullah Abdullah, the No. 2 official in the government, was inside the palace during the rocket attack. ose inside the palace, however, were far removed from where the rockets landed. The rockets landed shortly before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was to give an address to mark Eid al-Adha (Bakrid)

Kabul: At least three rockets hit near the presidential palace on Tuesday (July 21) shortly before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was to give an address to mark the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha (Bakrid). There were no injuries and the rockets landed outside the heavily fortified palace grounds, said Mirwais Stanikzai, spokesman for the interior minister. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, which destroyed at least one car parked on a nearby street. Abdullah Abdullah, the No. 2 official in the government, was inside the palace during the rocket attack, having returned on a day earlier from peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar. Those inside the palace, however, were far removed from where the rockets landed. The palace is in the middle of a so-called Green Zone that is fortified with giant cement blast walls and barbed wire, and streets near the palace have long been closed off. The barrage came as the US and NATO complete their final withdrawal from Afghanistan.