Rocket attack on Kabul airport as US secretary arrives in Afghanistan

Kabul: Twenty to 30 rockets had been fired in the northern part of Kabul International Airport on Wednesday, as US Defence Secretary James Mattis and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg arrived here on a surprise visit.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Kabul airport Chief Yaqub Rassuli said, "The rockets hit the air forces' hangars in the northern part. The missiles were fired from Deh Sabz district of Kabul."

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"At 1136 hours two missiles were fired on Kabul International Airport from Deh Sabz district, damaging the air force hangers and destroying one helicopter and damaging three other helicopters, but there were no casualties," Rassouli said.

The NATO mission in Afghanistan posted on its official Twitter account that Defence Secretary Mattis and NATO chief Stoltenberg had arrived at the NATO headquarters in Kabul, where they will inspect the international troops and meet Afghan authorities, including President Ashraf Ghani.

with IANS inputs...