On January 18, 2010, Taliban insurgents launched a coordinated assault on government and commercial buildings near the Presidential Palace in Kabul. Suicide bombers and gunmen targeted ministries, shopping centers, and the Central Bank. The attack lasted several hours and killed at least 12 people, including both civilians and militants. It was one of the boldest Taliban offensives since their removal from power in 2001. The assault demonstrated the group’s continued reach and ability to strike at the heart of the Afghan capital.
