A suicide bomber struck near the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan's capital on Tuesday, killing five people in an attack claimed by Daesh terrorist group.

Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mujro said another 20 people were wounded in the blast, which took place in a heavily-guarded area housing several diplomatic missions and the offices of international organizations.

Daesh claimed the bombing in a brief statement carried by its Aamaq news agency, without specifying the target.

It was the first attack targeting the Afghan capital's so-called "Green Zone" since a massive truck bomb ripped through the area on May 31, killing or wounding hundreds.

"Our initial information shows the suicide attacker was on a motorcycle. He made it through the first checkpoint but was stopped at the second checkpoint and detonated," defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP.

The attack took place about 500 meters (yards) from the American Embassy, but there were no reports of foreigners killed or wounded.

"We don't know the target but it happened a few meters from the defense ministry's foreign relations office," Waziri added.