KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) strongly condemns Thursday evening’s deadly attack on a hotel in the capital, Kabul, with officials reporting nine civilian fatalities and several wounded.

The attack took place on a clear civilian location on the eve of Nowruz, customarily the start of the new year and a time for celebrating values such as peace and solidarity among different communities.

Among the civilians slain were Afghan women and children.

UNAMA reiterates that the indiscriminate attacks on civilian locations are breaches of international humanitarian law.

The UN Mission extends its condolences to all those affected by the violence.