More than 400 people were killed and around 250 injured in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul late on Monday, Afghan officials said, while Pakistan rejected the claim, calling it “false and misleading.”
Afghanistan’s deputy spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, said the strike hit the state-run Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital at around 9:00 pm, destroying large sections of the facility and causing heavy casualties.
Summarising the scale of the damage, he said: “Large parts of the hospital have been destroyed, and there are fears of heavy casualties. Sadly, the number of those killed has so far reached 400, with up to 250 others injured.”
In an official statement, he added: “Rescue teams are currently at the scene working to control the fire and recover the remaining bodies of the victims.”
Pakistan rejected Kabul’s claim, stating it had “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure” during overnight operations.
Witnesses described multiple explosions as patients completed evening prayers. Local media footage showed flames engulfing parts of the complex, while emergency workers carried bodies on stretchers.
The strike marks a sharp escalation in the month-long conflict between the neighbours, who share a 2,600-kilometre border. Both sides have traded accusations, with Islamabad alleging Kabul shelters militants - a claim denied by Afghan authorities.
International reaction has been swift. The United Nations Special Rapporteur, Richard Bennett, said he was “dismayed” by reports of civilian casualties, urging restraint and respect for international law.
China also called for calm. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “Dialogue and negotiation are the only effective way to solve the problems between the two countries,” urging both sides to return to talks.
India condemned the strike, calling it a “cowardly and unconscionable act” and urging accountability.
The latest strike underscores a deepening crisis between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with violence intensifying and civilian casualties continuing to rise.
Georgia’s busiest sea gateway has reached its capacity limit, adding urgency to plans for a major expansion of Poti port as the country seeks...
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, ...
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia and a seaport in Dagestan in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy s...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, explosions were heard across parts of southern Iran according to local media reports.
Georgia’s busiest sea gateway has reached its capacity limit, adding urgency to plans for a major expansion of Poti port as the country seeks to strengthen its role in the Middle Corridor trade route between Asia and Europe.
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, explosions were heard across parts of southern Iran according to local media reports.
Kabul could become the first modern city in the world to run out of water by 2029, the UK head of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned following a week-long visit to Afghanistan.
The Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) have signed an agreement to strengthen international development and humanitarian cooperation.
Azerbaijan's education system is showing some of its strongest signs of progress in years, with the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results revealing significant improvements in mathematics, science and reading.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment