A gunman attacked a mosque in western Afghanistan, resulting in the death of six people, according to a government spokesman.
Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs, stated that “an unknown armed individual opened fire on civilian worshippers in a mosque” around 9pm (16:30 GMT) on Monday in Andisheh town, located in the Guzara district of Herat province.
The attack on a mosque in western Afghanistan claimed the lives of six civilians and injured one person, according to Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The mosque, located in Andisheh town of Guzara district in Herat province, is reported to belong to Afghanistan’s minority Shia community.
Local media reports indicate that the attack also resulted in the death of a prayer leader, known as the Imam.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the regional chapter of ISIL (ISIS) is known to pose a significant security threat in Afghanistan, particularly targeting Shia communities.
Despite the Taliban government’s pledge to safeguard religious and ethnic minorities following their return to power in August 2021, rights monitors argue that they have made minimal efforts to fulfill that commitment.
One of the most infamous incidents attributed to ISIL since the Taliban’s resurgence occurred in 2022.
A suicide bombing at an educational center in a Shia neighborhood of Kabul resulted in the deaths of at least 53 individuals, including 46 girls and young women. Taliban officials attributed the attack to ISIL.
Kabul’s new leadership asserts that ISIL has been eradicated from Afghanistan and is particularly sensitive to any insinuation that the group has found refuge in the country since the departure of foreign forces.
However, Taliban authorities often provide lower death tolls than other sources following bombings and armed assaults, seemingly aiming to minimize security concerns.
According to a United Nations Security Council report released in January, there has been a reduction in ISIL attacks in Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Nevertheless, the report highlights that ISIL still maintains a “significant” recruitment presence in the country and possesses the capability to pose a threat locally and beyond.
The ISIL branch operating across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia claimed responsibility for the March attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow, resulting in the deaths of over 140 people.
This incident marked the deadliest attack in Russia in two decades.
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