Afghanistan car explosion targets NATO convoy

UPDATE: The Pentagon said two U.S. service members died when a suicide bomber attacked a NATO convoy earlier Wednesday. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, confirmed the casualties but did not release any other details. Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi identified the suicide bomber as Asadullah Kandahari and claimed he killed 15 foreign soldiers in the attack.

OUR EARLIER REPORT (8:47 a.m., 8/2/17): A suicide bomber on Wednesday hit a NATO convoy in Afghanistan’s southern city of Kandahar, resulting in an unconfirmed number of casualties, the NATO mission said. In a statement, the mission, known as Resolute Support, confirmed the attack and said it is gathering additional information before releasing more details. Taliban spokesman Qari Yosuf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the bombing. The United States and NATO have deployed about 13,500 soldiers to Afghanistan. U.S. President Donald Trump is deliberating whether to send an additional 4,000 troops to the country to quell the Taliban’s insurgency. Wednesday’s attack comes as Afghan authorities in the western Herat province set up heightened security in preparation for a mass funeral for some terror victims. A suicide attacker opened fire and set off his explosives inside a mosque Tuesday, killing at least 29 people and injuring another 64 others.