ISIS has declared responsibility for a recent attack carried out by gunmen on tourists in the Bamiyan province of central Afghanistan, as reported on Sunday.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry revealed on Friday that the assault resulted in the deaths of three Spanish nationals and injuries to a fourth. An Afghan citizen was also killed alongside the Spanish victims.
Bamiyan, known for its mountainous terrain, houses one of UNESCO‘s World Heritage sites and the remnants of two giant Buddha statues destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
Since seizing control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have pledged to restore security and promote tourism, including selling tickets to view the Buddha statues.
This attack, occurring on Friday, marks the most severe against tourists since the withdrawal of foreign forces and the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021.
It follows a 2022 incident where ISIS also claimed responsibility for an attack that wounded Chinese nationals at a Kabul hotel frequented by Chinese businessmen.
The repeated targeting of foreign visitors underscores ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan, despite Taliban promises to stabilize the region.
The Security Council of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region recently announced the capture of Soqrat Khalil, the right-hand man of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Soqrat Khalil, also known as “Abdullah al-Tafkheekh,” joined ISIS in 2013 and was a close and highly trusted associate of al-Baghdadi.
Khalil was involved in the bomb-making division within ISIS and played a significant role in the capture of Mosul in June 2014.
He held several emir positions within ISIS and was present in Mosul until 2017, participating in all battles defending the city.
