At least four deadly attacks were reported across Afghanistan, including the capital city Kabul on between Monday night and Tuesday, adding another layer of complexity to the government’s efforts for peace and the fight against COVID-19.

Figures provided by security officials and local government sources suggest that over 50 people--the majority of them civilians--were killed in different security incidents in the last 24 hours in different parts of the country.

Kabul

Blasts were heard in Kabul for the second day in a row, this time with a complex attack on a maternity hospital in the west of Kabul. 

14 civilians were killed, including two newborns. 

Security forces shut down the attack after five hours, with the killing of four attackers who an eyewitness said were wearing Afghan military uniforms 

The Interior Affairs Ministry says 72 civilians, including children, were rescued.  Sources said there is a guesthouse of foreign nationals behind the hospital and this was the target of the attackers who wanted to get access through the health facility.

The Taliban denied their involvement in the attack.

Nangarhar

In Nangarhar, in the east of Afghanistan, a funeral ceremony was hit on Tuesday morning by an explosion that lat least 24 people killed and more than a dozen wounded, according to sources.   

The blasts occurred at the funeral of Shaikh Akram, a former commander of public uprising forces in Shewa district, who had died from a heart attack. 

Abdullah Malikzai, a member of the Nangarhar provincial council, also lost his life in the attack.

Shaikh Akram was an influential figure in his district and, according to the residents, he had a prominent role in ensuring the security of Shewa district.

The Taliban in a statement said the group is not behind the attack.

Ghor

At least four members of the public uprising forces were killed and three others were wounded in a Taliban attack on their outpost located 40 kilometers to the west of Feroz Koh city, the center of Ghor, according to the provincial police spokesman Abdul Maroof Ramish.

Ramish said the attack happened on Monday evening.

He added that the Taliban also suffered heavy casualties in the attack.

The Taliban has not commented on the attack.

Khost

One civilian was killed and 10 others were wounded in an IED explosion in a market place during a busy hour in Sabariyo district, Khost province, on Tuesday morning, the Khost police said in a statement.

Balkh

Local residents in Balkh claimed that "9 civilians" were killed in an airstrike by government forces in Balkh district on Monday night in the northern province of Balkh. The Defense Ministry said "17 Taliban fighters were killed" in the airstrike as they were planting mines on a roadway. 

Residents said that the Taliban forced the civilians to destroy the roads.