The Taliban attacked the U.S. Consulate in western Afghanistan with car bombs and guns on Friday, killing at least four Afghans, though they did not enter the compound or hurt Americans, the Associated Press reported.
A full withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan is expected in 2014.
The early Friday morning attack began when militants in an SUV and a van set off explosives while others fired on Afghan security forces guarding the Consulate, news reports said. Three members of the Afghan security forces and an interpreter were killed, said Marie Harf, the U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman.
Seven militants also died, according to the Herat hospital official.
"All consulate personnel are safe and accounted for," Robert Hilton, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, said. Most of the staff were temporarily relocated to the capital, but some essential personnel stayed in Herat, he said.
"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack on 13 September on the United States Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility. They expressed their deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous act, and to the Government and people of Afghanistan."
