Taliban siege in Afghanistan kills at least 18 people

Afghan forces on Sunday ended an overnight siege by Taliban fighters at the Kabul Intercontinental Hotel that killed at least 18 people, including 14 foreigners. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said six insurgents dressed in suicide vests entered the six-story hotel in the capital city through the kitchen at about 9 p.m. on Saturday. Afghan special forces killed all of the fighters after more than 13 hours, during which the extremists roamed the hallways and targeted foreigners and security forces. Eleven of the 14 foreigners who died were employees of Kam Air, a private Afghan airline. The foreign casualties include nationals from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Afghan security officials confirmed some 34 provincial officers were at the hotel for a conference organized by the Telecommunication Ministry. Security officials rescued some of the 150 guests while others escaped by sliding down bedsheets from the higher floors. Danish said an investigation is underway to determine how the extremists gained access to the hotel. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the group staged the attack. The Taliban has increasingly attacked security officials in recent months. In another weekend strike claimed by the insurgent group, militants killed 18 pro-government militia members in the northern Balkh province. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson condemned the hotel violence, and neighboring Pakistan called for stronger cooperation against militants.