2013 attack on U.S. consulate in Herat

{{Short description|Taliban attack in Afghanistan}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2013 attack on U.S. consulate in Herat

| partof = the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

| image = Herat in Afghanistan.svg

| caption = Location of Herat Province in Afghanistan

| location = Herat, Afghanistan

| target = U.S. consulate

| coordinates =

| date = 13 September 2013

| time = 5.30 am

| timezone =

| type = Truck bombing, mass shooting

| fatalities = 8 attackers, 8 guards, and 1 Afghan policeman

| injuries = 20

| victim =

| weapons = Truck bomb, assault rifles, RPGs

| perps = Taliban

}}

The U.S. consulate in Herat, Afghanistan was attacked on September 13, 2013, by a group of Taliban militants.{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-militants-strike-us-consulate/1748890.html|title=Taliban Militants Attack US Consulate in Afghanistan|date=13 September 2013|access-date=13 September 2013|publisher=Voice of America News}} Reports indicated that the assault began at 5:30 am on the front gate of the consulate. A large truck drove up to the consulate's primary vehicle entry point and detonated a massive improvised explosive charge, causing extensive damage.{{Cite news|url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323392204579071992339119938|title = Taliban Attacks U.S. Consulate in Afghanistan|date = 13 September 2013|access-date = 13 September 2013|publisher = Wall Street Journal}} A minivan carrying an assault team armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades arrived and opened fire, moving into the consulate compound. Then, the driver of the minivan ignited a bomb inside the minivan, which exploded a short time afterwards.{{Cite web|url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/225841.pdf|title = Diplomatic Security Year in Review 2013}} Eight Afghan members of the consulate's guard force and one Afghan police officer were killed. An unknown number of bystanders were wounded.{{Cite web|title = US Consulate Herat Casualties: One Afghan Police, Eight Local Guards Killed|url = http://diplopundit.net/2013/09/15/us-consulate-herat-casualties-one-afghan-police-eight-local-guards-killed/|website = Diplopundit|access-date = 2016-01-10|first = Domani|last = Spero| date=15 September 2013 }} A gun battle ensued, and all seven attackers were killed. No Americans were killed or seriously injured. The U.S. Department of State awarded Heroism Awards to several of the consulate's defenders.{{Cite web|title = U.S. Department of State Awards|url = https://www.state.gov/m/ds/about/c32817.htm|website = United States Department of State|access-date = January 30, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180130000927/https://www.state.gov/m/ds/about/c32817.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date= January 30, 2018}}

The Taliban took credit for the attack in an emailed statement.{{Cite news|url = http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/13/202047/bombers-attack-us-consulate-in.html#.UjPTvsasiSo|title = U.S. troops join Afghans to repulse attack on consulate in Herat|date = 13 September 2013|access-date = 13 September 2013|publisher = McClatchy News|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130916023421/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/13/202047/bombers-attack-us-consulate-in.html#.UjPTvsasiSo|archive-date = 16 September 2013|url-status = dead}}

In a press release, the United Nations condemned the attack "in the strongest terms."{{cite press release|title=UN Security Council Press Statement: Taliban attack on US Consulate in Herat|work=The United Nations|date=September 13, 2013|url=http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=12254&ctl=Details&mid=15756&ItemID=37259&language=en-US|access-date=September 14, 2013}}