Two rockets hit US Embassy in Kabul on Christmas Day, as attacks continue to increase ahead of Obama's 2014 timetable

From NBC News:

Two rockets hit the U.S. Embassy compound in Afghanistan [on Christmas] just before dawn Wednesday, an embassy spokesperson said. A source said the rockets did not cause any damage to the embassy, but rather impacted the ground within the compound perimeter.

Additionally, the AP reported:

A bicycle bomb was remotely detonated in front of a restaurant... 60 kilometers east of Kabul, killing six people and wounding 13.

Two of the killed were policemen and four were civilians... The attack also wounded 13 civilians, including several children.

Earlier in the day, a roadside bombing in eastern Kabul wounded three Afghan policemen...

Afghan insurgents have increased attacks in recent months, intensifying a campaign to regain territory as foreign forces draw down ahead of full withdrawal at the end of 2014.

BNO News reported that the rocket attack on the US embassy "was followed by a tip that led Afghan police officers to an improvised explosive device (IED) in the vicinity of the embassy compound... The device exploded at around 7:30 a.m. local time while officers were attempting to defuse it, seriously injuring four of them."

ABC News reported on the embassy attack:

The explosions sent staff at the embassy – who live on the same compound during their off-hours – scurrying to bomb shelters for cover.

The AFP reported:

The mortar rockets sent US diplomats rushing for shelter as the heavily-fortified embassy in the city center sounded its emergency sirens and loudspeakers broadcast a "duck and cover" alarm warning...

Previous Taliban mortar attacks on Kabul have lacked accuracy, and the Christmas Day attacks will raise concerns that the militants have improved their ability to launch and direct the rockets.