The Afghan Taliban announced on April 24 the beginning of its annual spring offensive. The militant group said its main target of the offensive would be foreign embassies, restaurants, hotels, airports, foreign guesthouses, and educational centers. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry dismissed the announcement and called it "repetitive propaganda."
The State Department issued a warning to Americans in Kabul of potential terrorist attacks in Kabul City and in other places in Afghanistan. The United States Embassy in Kabul received reports of militants planning unspecific attacks and the threat for unplanned protests to occur on short notice.
The State Department reminded Americans in and traveling to Afghanistan to remain vigilant and to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
This is the first year that the Afghan security forces will combat the Taliban without the full support of United States led combat forces. The Afghan military forces claimed to be fully prepared to respond to any attacks.
On Monday a Taliban suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying government workers, killing one person and wounding 13.