Afghan suicide bombings

On June 4, a suicide bomber struck a group of Muslim clerics in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 14 people. The bombing occurred at a religious gathering that attracted more than 2,000 religious scholars and clerics from across the country to work toward peace. The clerics had just declared a fatwa (religious ruling) against suicide bombing, calling it a sin.

No group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but Afghan authorities believe it was a member of the Islamist militant group the Taliban.

The Afghan government and Taliban militants agreed on June 15 to cease hostilities during the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the end of the month of Ramadan, which in 2018 occurred on June 16. On that evening, a suicide bomber targeted a group of Afghan soldiers and Taliban militants celebrating together in the town of Nangahar, eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 36 people. The bombing was claimed by Islamist militant group Daesh (ISIL).

The Taliban declined to extend the cease-fire after the end of Eid.