Taliban suicide bombers and armed militants drove a truck toward the U.S. Consulate in the city of Herat early Friday, managing to kill two Afghan police and a security guard.
No Americans were killed in the attack, The Associated Press reported.
The truck exploded, then gunfire erupted as U.S. and Afghan forces battled off insurgents. CBS reported several more of the attackers were killed in the gunfight.
Officials with the U.S. Consulate reported staff “performed superbly,” AP said.
The State Department released this statement, via spokeswoman Marie Harf: The attack started about 5:30 a.m. when “a truck carrying attackers drove to the front gate, and attackers — possibly firing rocket propelled grenades and assault rifles — starting firing at Afghan forces and security guards on the exterior of the gates. Shortly after, the entire truck exploded, extensively damaging the front gate.”
The gunfight lasted about an hour, CBS reported.
SEE ALSO: Al Qaeda leader calls for strikes on U.S. soil to ‘bleed’ America’s finances
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, during a subsequent telephone interview with an AP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.