Suicide bomber attacks American convoy in Kabul, killing 8 and wounding 3 U.S. service members
A suicide car bomber struck a U.S. military convoy in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, killing at least eight Afghan civilians and wounding three U.S. service members in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, confirmed the toll and said an additional 25 Afghan civilians were wounded in the morning rush-hour attack near the U.S. Embassy, which destroyed several civilian vehicles
U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Salvin, a military spokesman, confirmed that three U.S. service members were wounded in the attack.
Islamic State claimed the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq media arm. An affiliate of the extremist group has gathered strength in recent years, and is now at war with the U.S.-backed government and the much larger Taliban insurgency.
Afghan forces have struggled to combat both groups since the U.S. and NATO officially concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014, switching to a support and counter-terrorism role. The U.S. has more than 8,000 troops in the country.
The Taliban and Islamic State both aspire to overthrow the Afghan government and impose a harsh version of Islamic law, but they are fiercely divided over leadership and tactics.
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