A suicide attacker injured dozens of American troops after detonating a truck bomb outside of a NATO base in eastern Afghanistan, MSNBC is reporting. The explosion occurred the night before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks against the United States.
A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Lt. Col. Wayne Perry, told NBC News that none of the troops appeared to have life-threatening injuries. He added that the majority of injured personnel will likely return to duty shortly.
The suicide bomber was driving a truck as he hit the outpost’s entrance, and “most of the force of the explosion was absorbed by the protective barrier,” ISAF said in a statement. While the explosion left a 20-foot hole in the wall, the outpost remains operational.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which also killed two Afghans, including a security guard and an interpreter, and wounded 25 Afghan civilians. The attack came hours after the Taliban vowed to keep fighting U.S. forces until all troops leave Afghanistan. The militia group added the attack had nothing to do with the September 11 anniversary.
The attack came as the U.S. Embassy held a memorial service in Kabul to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Marine Crops Gen. John Allen urged those assembled to honor those who died.
Written by: Karen Benardello
