After Years Of Attacks, Taliban Takes Over Kabul’s Iconic Serena Hotel, Ending 20-Year Run

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has taken over the management of the prestigious Kabul Serena Hotel, a luxury property previously operated by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development for nearly 20 years. "Since opening in 2005, Kabul Serena Hotel has been an integral part of Kabul's social fabric, an iconic presence in the city, and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to the people of Afghanistan," the statement said, reflecting the hotel’s prominence in the Afghan capital. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Serena Hotels Asia Kabul Serena Hotel Became Site Of Multiple Taliban Attacks The Serena was particularly popular with business travellers and foreign guests before the Taliban's resurgence in 2021, and it had been the target of several deadly attacks during the insurgency, news agency AFP reported. Following the Taliban's 2021 takeover of Afghanistan, Western governments, including the United States and Britain, issued travel warnings to their citizens, particularly urging caution around hotels such as the Serena, highlighting the precarious security situation.