ZCZC
BFF-41
AFGHANISTAN-UNREST-NATO-CZECH,WRAP-UPDATE
Afghan suicide blast kills three Czech soldiers, Taliban claim responsibility
KABUL, Aug 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A suicide bombing claimed by the Taliban
killed three Czech soldiers on patrol in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, the
deadliest assault on NATO troops for many months.
“Three Resolute Support service members were killed by a suicide bomber
during a combined, dismounted patrol with Afghan forces in eastern
Afghanistan,” NATO’s Resolute Support mission said in a statement.
In Prague, the military said the dead soldiers were Czech.
A US member of the patrol and two Afghan soldiers were wounded, NATO
added.
The attack by a lone bomber on foot happened at 6am in the city of
Charikar in Parwan province 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Kabul, said
provincial governor’s spokesman Wahida Shahkar.
The Taliban in a statement claimed responsibility, saying they killed or
wounded eight American soldiers in a “tactical explosion”.
The Czech army said in a statement that three of its soldiers, a staff
sergeant and two corporals, were killed in the explosion.
“The tragic death of our three soldiers has struck me deeply, and I wish
to express my deepest condolences to their families,” said Defence Minister
Lubomir Metnar.
Thirteen Czech soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan.
The NATO force largely ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014 and
pulled out the bulk of its troops. A 16,000-strong residual force remains for
training and counter-terrorism operations.
Of these, the US accounts for 13,000 soldiers, about 2,000 of whom are
assigned to anti-terror combat missions.
Last month a US soldier was killed and two others wounded in an “apparent
insider attack” in southern Afghanistan.
Casualties among the NATO force have fallen dramatically since most were
withdrawn from combat. But the Taliban and the Islamic State (IS) group have
recently stepped up their attacks against government and civilian targets.
On Friday two suicide bombers dressed as women struck a Shiite mosque in
Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, while it was crowded with worshippers
for weekly prayers. Thirty-five were killed and more than 90 wounded.
The burqa-clad attackers shot at the mosque’s security guards before
opening fire on worshippers and then detonating their explosives.
Last month an IS suicide bomber blew himself up near Kabul international
airport, killing 23 people including AFP driver Mohammad Akhtar.
Both attacks were claimed by IS, which is trying to make inroads in
Afghanistan.
BSS/AFP/RY/1745 hrs