Troops wounded in Afghanistan convoy attack

A “small number” of troops from the U.S. and international coalition in Afghanistan were wounded by a car bomb Friday, Operation Resolute Support said in a statement.

“A small number of Resolute Support service members were wounded today when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted their patrol in Kandahar,” the statement said.

Resolute Support is the NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan troops in their fight against the Taliban and includes U.S. troops.

The statement did not identify the nationalities of the injured troops, nor the extent of the injuries, but said those injured were taken to Kandahar Airfield hospital for treatment.

No more details of the incident were provided. Operation Resolute Support said “more information will be released as appropriate.”

Friday’s attack comes after a suicide bomber wounded five U.S. troops, a Georgian soldier and some civilians Monday near the village of Qal’eh-ye Musa Bala in Parwan Province. That attack likewise targeted a Resolute Support convoy with a car bomb.

The United States has about 11,000 troops in Afghanistan on a dual mission of training, advising and assisting Afghan troop and conducting counterterrorism missions.

Defense Secretary James Mattis has signed orders to deploy a reported 3,500 more as part of President Trump’s strategy for Afghanistan.