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Afghan Suicide Attack Kills 5 Americans Afghan Suicide Attack Kills 5 Americans
(about 7 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide car bomb in southern Afghanistan killed three American soldiers and two American civilians on Saturday, the deadliest single attack against United States forces this year, officials said.KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide car bomb in southern Afghanistan killed three American soldiers and two American civilians on Saturday, the deadliest single attack against United States forces this year, officials said.
The bomber detonated his vehicle around 11 a.m. as an American convoy passed that was accompanying the provincial governor on a trip to inaugurate a new school in Qalat, the capital of Zabul Province, according to American and Afghan officials. At least one of the civilians worked for the State Department. The bomber detonated his vehicle on a road around 11 a.m. as an American convoy passed by, according to American and Afghan officials.
The blast, which occurred near a coalition base, killed an Afghan doctor accompanying the governor, said Muhammad Jan Rasoolyar, the deputy governor. The governor survived the attack, which also wounded several Americans and Afghans, including two of the governor’s bodyguards. The convoy was accompanying the governor of Zabul Province on a trip to inaugurate a new school in Qalat, the provincial capital.
It is unclear whether the attack was aimed at the coalition forces or the governor. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing, which was the deadliest for Americans since last July, when a bomb in Wardak Province killed six United States service members, American officials said. One of the civilians worked for the State Department and was traveling to the school to donate books, the officials said.
In a separate occurrence, an American civilian was killed in an insurgent attack in the east of the country, bringing Saturday’s American death toll to six. “We know too well the risks in the world today for all of our State Department personnel at home and around the world — Foreign Service, Civil Service, political appointees, locally employed staff and so many others,” Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement. “Every day, we honor their courage and are grateful for their sacrifices, and today we do so with great sadness.”
Violence in Afghanistan is likely to pick up in the coming weeks and months, as the warm weather spreads. Further, as the NATO troops who have secured the country for the last decade pack up and leave at the end of 2014, the Taliban are expected to intensify their efforts to destabilize the Afghan security forces, who are taking over the battle.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for Saturday’s blast, which occurred near a coalition base and killed an Afghan doctor accompanying the governor, said Muhammad Jan Rasoolyar, the deputy governor. The governor survived the attack, which also wounded several Americans and Afghans, including two of the governor’s bodyguards. The State Department said four of its employees were wounded, one critically.
It is unclear whether the attack was aimed at the coalition forces or the governor. The bombing was the deadliest for Americans since July, when a bomb in Wardak Province killed six United States service members, American officials said.
In a separate attack, an American civilian was killed in an insurgent strike in the east of the country, bringing Saturday’s American death toll to six. So far this year, 30 coalition troops have died in Afghanistan, 24 of them Americans, according to Icasualties, a Web site that tracks military fatalities.
The attacks come on the heels of a major Taliban assault in Farah Province last week that killed at least 44 people. Insurgents stormed the government compound in the capital, setting off a seven-hour gun battle that wounded more than 100 people. Saturday’s attack, by contrast, was less complex, with no guns involved.
The death tolls for coalition forces and Afghans have reversed as Afghans have taken the lead in battle, with Afghans now making up the vast majority of victims of combat-related deaths.

Taimoor Shah contributed reporting from Kandahar, Afghanistan.