Taliban bombing hits Nato convoy in Kandahar city

KANDAHAR A suicide bomber struck a Nato convoy near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Wednesday, the US military said, adding that there were casualties but without providing more information.

The Taliban took responsibility, with its spokesman claiming that the bombing killed 15 soldiers. Lt Damien E Horvath, a military spokesman, could not say how many casualties there were, or provide their nationalities. The Nato mission, known as Resolute Support, “can confirm that a Nato convoy was attacked in Kandahar. The attack did cause casualties,” he said.

In their claim of responsibility, the Taliban also said the attack destroyed two armored tanks. The insurgents’ spokesman for southern Afghanistan, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, said fighter Asadullah Kandahari was the “hero” who carried out the attack with a small pick-up truck, packed with explosives.

IS CLAIMS MOSQUE ATTACK IN HERAT

The Islamic State group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s suicide attack on a Shia mosque in Afghanistan that left dozens dead.

“Around 50 Shias killed and 80 wounded in an attack by Islamic State fighters yesterday on a mosque in western Afghanistan’s Herat,” the group’s propaganda outlet Amaq said.

Afghan authorities said earlier that 30 worshippers including young children were killed and 64 wounded when suicide bombers throwing grenades stormed the Jawadya mosque in the western city near the Iranian border late Tuesday.