Armed men stormed a hotel in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday, and the Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. A Taliban official said security forces killed three assailants.

The hotel is popular with foreign nationals, mainly those from China. Two foreigners were injured jumping from a window to escape.

A hospital run by an Italian non-profit organization said that it received 18 injured patients, and three who were dead on arrival. Neither the Taliban nor the NPO disclosed the victims' nationalities.

China's Foreign Ministry said five Chinese citizens were among the injured, and that several military and police officers were killed. The ministry strongly condemned the attack.

Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "The terrorist attack was malicious, and we are deeply shocked."

He added, "We urge the Taliban interim government to take strong measures to protect Chinese civilians living in Afghanistan, as well as China's interests."

Terrorists have previously targeted facilities in Kabul with ties to other countries. In September, a suicide bombing outside the Russian embassy left six dead, including two embassy employees. An attack on the Pakistani embassy earlier this month injured a guard.