The Pentagon reported Saturday that a Taliban suicide bomber attacked the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan in the early morning hours, killing four and injuring 17. A U.S. official stated that the suicide bomber entered the base with a suicide vest and detonated the bomb as military personnel were moving between morning exercises and the dining hall just after 5:30 AM. The Taliban has taken responsibility for the deadly attack and Defense Secretary Ash Carter released a statement following the deadly explosion that targeted Americans.
“I am deeply saddened to learn that an explosion early this morning at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan has resulted in U.S. casualties,” Carter said. “An apparent suicide bomber has taken the lives of two U.S. service members and two U.S. contractors working on the base. The explosion wounded 16 other U.S. service members and one Polish soldier participating in our NATO mission.”
“I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of the fallen, and I want to reassure the loved ones of those injured that they are getting the best possible care,” Carter continued. “Force protection is always a top priority for us in Afghanistan, and we will investigate this tragedy to determine any steps we can take to improve it. For those who carried out this attack, my message is simple. We will not be deterred in our mission to protect our homeland and help Afghanistan secure its own future.”
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