Iran Condemns Terrorists' Attack in Mirza Awlang of Afghanistan

TEHRAN (defapress)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi strongly condemned terrorists' attack on the Shiite-populated area of Mirza Awlang in the Afghan province of Sar-e-Pul.

News ID: 65516

Date: 09 August 2017 - 16:09

The Spokesman strongly condemned the terrorists' heinous crime and massacre of tens of civilians in the region, and extended Tehran's condolences to the Afghan nation and government as well as the bereaved families of the victims.

He further reiterated the necessity for the Afghan nation to keep vigilant and stand united against such bitter human experience that, he said, are meant to stir sectarian strife.

Insurgents attacked a village in the Northern Afghan province of Sar-e-Pul, killing as many as 50 people, including women and children, according to officials.

The militants attacked a security outpost in the Mirza Olang area of Sayaad district overnight, torching 30 houses, Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor said.

He said fighting was still going on but as many as 50 people, including children, women and elderly men, most of them members of the largely Shiite Hazara community, may have been killed, according to village elders.

"They were killed in a brutal, inhumane way,” he said. Seven members of the Afghan security forces were also killed as well as a number of insurgents.

Many details of the attack, including the identity of the insurgents, were not immediately clear. Amani said they were a mixed group of Taliban and ISIL militants. However, the Taliban denied involvement, dismissing the claim as propaganda.

Although the Taliban and ISIL are usually enemies, the allegiance of their forces is occasionally fluid, with fighters from both groups sometimes changing sides or cooperating with militants from other groups.

Four days later on Monday, some two hundred and thirty five civilians were rescued from the Taliban and ISIL captivity.

The provincial government in a statement said the civilians including women and children were rescued after the local tribal elders intervened for their release along with the central government’s efforts.

The statement further added that civilians were kept as hostages for the past four days and since the insurgents captured the key Mirza Awlang area in Sayad district.