Taliban insurgents have claimed responsibility for a series of ongoing attacks in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Tuesday, apparently targeting international coalition force headquarters and local government facilities.
There have been multiple explosions, as well as gunfire, near the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul.
VOA personnel also confirm at least two explosions at the nearby U.S. Embassy.
Media reports say the violence is centered in a central neighborhood of Kabul, near the city's diplomatic district.
The Taliban says it is launching a "massive suicide attack" against a government building and the country's intelligence service.
There are no immediate reports of casualties.
The attack comes just days after insurgents carried out an attack on a NATO base in central Afghanistan, killing four Afghan civilians and wounding more than 100 others, include 77 U.S. troops.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack outside the main gate of the Combat Outpost Sayed Abad in Wardak province. But Pentagon spokesman George Little said Monday there is a very strong likelihood that the Pakistan-based Haqqani leadership supported and was aware of the attack.
The militant Haqqani network, which operates from Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region and is affiliated with both the Taliban and al-Qaida, has launched a number of high-profile attacks in neighboring Afghanistan.
The explosion occurred on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks against the United States.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
