KABUL: Afghanistan's largest military hospital was attacked last week, by gunmen dressed as doctors who stormed into the facility and killed over 30 people in a six-hour stint. Over 50 people were wounded in the assault made on Sardar Daud Khan hospital, as explosions and gunfire shook Kabul's diplomatic district.
Medical staff hid in the hospital wards, as they posted desperate messages for help on the internet. Administrators informed that three gunmen wearing white laboratory coats, began shooting bullets, after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the backdoor entrance, sparking chaos inside the 400-bed facility. "I saw one of the attackers, armed with an AK-47 and dressed as a doctor, shooting at patients and guards on the third floor. They shot my friend but I managed to flee... I had to jump over the barbed wire to escape," said hospital nurse Abdul Qadeer.
The Islamic State attackers were gunned down after special forces landed on the roof of the hospital in a military helicopter. Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said, "More than 30 people were killed and around 50 wounded in today's attack. Most of the victims are patients, doctors, and nurses." At least two more loud explosions, including what the defence ministry called a car bomb in the hospital's parking lot, were heard as Afghan special forces launched a clearance operation. The country's warring factions have almost always targeted medical facilities, negatively affecting the country's health system.
Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack saying, "This is a criminal act. Nothing can justify an attack on hospitals. We will never forgive these criminals. Unfortunately, this attack has resulted in some casualties." While the Taliban denied authority, the Islamic State claimed responsibility through a verified Telegram account.
