Taliban suicide bomber hits combat outpost in Wardak

A Taliban suicide bomber detonated a large amount of explosives outside of Combat Outpost Sayed Abad in Afghanistan’s Wardak province. ISAF provides some details in a press release on the attack:

The driver, whose truck was carrying firewood, detonated his explosives at the outpost’s Entry Control Point.

Most of the force of the explosion was absorbed by the protective barrier at the outpost entrance and though there were a significant number of injuries. All are being treated and none is immediately life threatening.

The explosion damaged the compound entrance and was not followed-up by any subsequent attacks. The impact to the compound is readily repairable and operations are continuing.

According to Reuters, four Afghan civilians were killed and 77 US soldiers, were wounded. In a follow-on press release, ISAF said that “less than 25 Afghan civilians have received non-life-threatening injuries,” and that the “majority of injured ISAF personnel will likely return to duties shortly.” ISAF also gave some details on the damage caused by the massive blast:

The perimeter wall, as well as a maintenance facility, was damaged in the attack; however, the protective barriers around the site absorbed most of the explosion.

The COP remains operational and protective barriers have been repaired after the failed attempt by insurgents to degrade operational capabilities and cause loss of life to coalition troops.

The Taliban claimed credit for the attack in a press release at Voice of Jihad. The attack was “conducted by a loin [sic] of Islam, Saifullah resident of Paktia province,” the statement said. The Taliban claimed that “as many as 50 US invading troops and their puppets were killed.”

The Saydabad district is near the scene of the Aug. 6 downing of a Chinook that killed 37 US and Afghan soldiers and an interpreter. Seventeen Navy SEALs from Naval Special Warfare Development Group, which is more commonly referred to as SEAL Team 6, were among those killed in that attack. The area has become a Taliban safe haven since US forces turned over a combat outpost in the area to Afghan forces this Spring (Combat Outpost Tangi was turned over to Afghan forces in April, but US troops would remain on the outpost).

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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Tags: Afghanistan, Taliban