UPDATE - Daesh militants attack Iraqi embassy in Afghan capital

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS ON ATTACK, EVACUATION OF EMBASSY STAFF, STATEMENT FROM IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTRY, BACKGROUND ON PREVIOUS DAESH ATTACKS IN KABUL

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The Iraqi Embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul was attacked Monday by Daesh militants with a heavy blast followed by dark smoke and gunfire.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Najib Danish told Anadolu Agency that up to four attackers were involved in the attack.

"A suicide bomber blew up himself at the entrance of the embassy while three others made their way in, and started shooting," he said.

The attackers stormed the embassy compound at around 11.30 a.m. local time (0730GMT) and the siege was declared over after around four hours of gunfight, he added.

The ministry announced that the special unit of the Afghan National Police (ANP) had reached the site quickly and surrounded the area and rescued the embassy staff.

In a statement, the ministry denounced the incident, calling it an "un-Islamic and inhuman" act of the terrorists.

Danish said all three remaining attackers got killed and only one ANP officer got wounded in the operation. He added all Iraqi diplomats had been safely rescued.

Ahmad Jamal, spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, confirmed the embassy staff had been temporarily moved to the Egyptian Embassy.

In a press statement, Jamal said two Afghan security officers stationed outside the embassy had been killed in the attack.

Iraqi officials, the spokesman added, were now in close contact with their Afghan counterparts with a view to securing the release of two Iraqi security officers who are reportedly still inside the building.

Meanwhile, Daesh's propaganda agency Amaq said that two members of "the Islamic State [another word for Daesh] attack the Iraqi embassy building in the Afghan city of Kabul” without providing further details.

The Iraqi Embassy is located outside the diplomatic enclave close to the downtown Shahr-e-Nau area famous for its restaurants and shopping malls.

In a rare press event two weeks ago, the embassy had celebrated Iraqi forces' victory over Daesh in Mosul, Iraq.

Despite the Mother-of-all-bombs (MOAB) attack on Daesh bases in eastern Afghanistan in April, the militants continue to carry out terrorist attacks in Kabul. Monday's attack is the sixth major assault claimed by Daesh in the last eight months in the Afghan capital.

Last month, at least six worshipers were killed in a Daesh-claimed attack on a mosque in Kabul. On May 3, Daesh said it carried out a suicide attack in Kabul that killed eight civilians.

Other attacks include an attack on the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan Hospital in March that left up to 50 people dead, a suicide attack on Supreme Court in February that claimed 22 lives, and twin suicide attacks on Shia protesters last year that killed 80 people.