The U.S. consulate in Herat, Afghanistan was attacked on September 13, 2013, by a group of Taliban militants.[1] Reports indicated that the assault began at 5:30 am on the front gate of the consulate. A large truck drove up to the consulate's primary vehicle entry point and detonated a massive improvised explosive charge, causing extensive damage.[2] A minivan carrying an assault team armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades arrived and opened fire, moving into the consulate compound. Then, the driver of the minivan ignited a bomb inside the minivan, which exploded a short time afterwards.[3] Eight Afghan members of the consulate's guard force and one Afghan police officer were killed. An unknown number of bystanders were wounded.[4] A gun battle ensued, and all seven attackers were killed. No Americans were killed or seriously injured. The U.S. Department of State awarded Heroism Awards to several of the consulate's defenders.[5]
| 2013 attack on U.S. consulate in Herat | |
|---|---|
| Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) | |
 Location of Herat Province in Afghanistan | |
| Location | Herat, Afghanistan |
| Date | 13 September 2013 5.30 am |
| Target | U.S. consulate |
Attack type | Truck bombing, mass shooting |
| Weapons | Truck bomb, assault rifles, RPGs |
| Deaths | 8 attackers, 8 guards, and 1 Afghan policeman |
| Injured | 20 |
| Perpetrators | Taliban |
The Taliban took credit for the attack in an emailed statement.[6]
In a press release, the United Nations condemned the attack "in the strongest terms."[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Taliban Militants Attack US Consulate in Afghanistan". Voice of America News. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "Taliban Attacks U.S. Consulate in Afghanistan". Wall Street Journal. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "Diplomatic Security Year in Review 2013" (PDF).
- ^ Spero, Domani (15 September 2013). "US Consulate Herat Casualties: One Afghan Police, Eight Local Guards Killed". Diplopundit. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ^ "U.S. Department of State Awards". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ "U.S. troops join Afghans to repulse attack on consulate in Herat". McClatchy News. 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "UN Security Council Press Statement: Taliban attack on US Consulate in Herat". The United Nations (Press release). September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.