Reliable sources confirmed that multiple projectiles were fired towards Bagram Air Base Saturday evening.
The incident took place around 1930 (local time) in Parwan province, where Bagram Air Base is located.
Sources say at least three projectiles were fired towards the base after which C-RAM was activated. The area was later declared ‘all clear’.
The incident comes days after US signed an agreement with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, according to which Taliban won’t be launching any attacks against foreign forces. If Taliban involvement is confirmed, this would be first attack on foreign forces since the signing of Doha agreement.
The Taliban group has not commented or taken responsibility so far. The incident also remains officially unconfirmed by NATO’s Resolute Support mission.
A previous rocket attack against Bagram Air Base back in February was claimed by the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province (ISKP).
UPDATE:
The rocket attack at Bagram Air Base was claimed by Islamic State shortly after the incident.
UPDATE II:
Around the same time the rocket attack (later claimed by IS) was reported targeting Bagram Air Base, another incident took place in Bagram district of Parwan province. A vehicle exploded at a checkpoint in Sar Sayyad area after it was fired on by police after its driver tried to escape. No casualties were reported. It is believed that the vehicle was meant to be used as a VBIED and could be part of a larger attack linked to the rocket attack targeting the base.
UPDATE III:
Initially the police believed that the vehicle involved in the incident in Sar Sayyad area of Bagram district was a VBIED. However, updated reports indicate that the vehicle was involved in the rocket attack. A rocket launcher was found with the torched vehicle. It is still not clear how it exploded and no arrest has been made yet in connection with the incident.
UPDATE IV:
A NATO Resolute Support mission spokesperson was quoted confirming the attack on Monday and said that no one was hurt during the Saturday night attack and Bagram Air Base was not damaged.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Mahfooz Alizada, police chief of Parwan province, was quoted as saying that a man in a small pickup drove through a police checkpoint near Bagram about 8 p.m. Saturday and fired three mortars at the base before escaping.
Bagram district governor Abdul Shokour Qudousi was quoted as saying Afghan police destroyed the militant’s truck, causing a large explosion and all of the mortars were shot down.
Statements from local officials confirm the link of the vehicle that blew up near the base with the rocket attack claimed by IS. The statements also confirm the number of projectiles that were fired as reported earlier in this story. However, the photo report released by IS (shared above) displayed ten projectiles.
This article will be updated in case of new information.
