Afghanistan: Deadly Taliban suicide attack on NATO convoy in Kandahar Sep. 15

Event

A Taliban suicide attack on a NATO convoy killed one Romanian soldier and wounded at least two more Romanian soldiers near the eponymous capital of Kandahar province on Friday, September 15. The assailant reportedly rammed his car, filled with explosives, into the convoy; the wounded soldiers were subsequently rushed to the Kandahar Airfield hospital for treatment, per an Operation Resolute Support (NATO) report issued shortly thereafter. Expect heightened security measures in Kandahar province in the coming days in response to Friday's Taliban attack.

Context

Friday's Taliban attack comes days after a similar Taliban attack on a NATO convoy in Parwan province, which wounded five US soldiers, among others. This series of convoy attacks also comes amid a Taliban resurgence in the country, and recently announced plans by the US Trump administration to send some 4000 additional troops to rout terrorist networks. The Taliban asserted that it would continue to resist the US and NATO presence in the country following Trump's troop increase announcement. Nearly 2000 US soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded in Afghanistan since the US invasion in 2001.

Advice

Due to major security concerns, individuals throughout Afghanistan are urged to keep a safe distance from large gatherings, military convoys, government buildings, and crowded urban areas. Many Western governments advise their citizens against travel to Afghanistan due to the high threat of kidnapping and terrorism, including frequent attacks against Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, local civilians and politicians, and individuals working in the humanitarian and reconstruction fields. Travel to the country should only be undertaken with proper security protocols in place.