KABUL, Afghanistan, June 29 (UPI) -- The attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul won't do anything to slow the transition of military authority in Afghanistan, a NATO commander said.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for a brazen attack on the Intercontinental. Armed insurgents accompanied by suicide bombers stormed the hotel in a nighttime raid that pitted Afghan security forces against the attackers, officials with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said.
Rear Adm. Vic Beck, ISAF's director for public affairs, said in a statement Afghan police and security forces were able to play a key role in defeating the insurgents.
"This attack will do nothing to prevent the security transition process from moving forward," he added.
The attack comes roughly one week after U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to start pulling some U.S. forces out of the country. Afghan President Hamid Karzai had said he would like to see his security forces take over operations in the country by 2014.
ISAF spokesman Maj. Tim James told CNN ISAF helicopters -- operating under NATO command -- were used to fire on insurgents on the hotel roof about 4 hours after the attack began. ISAF said Afghan forces had cleared the roof and were working their way through the rest of the hotel.
At least 10 people were killed in the attack.
