KABUL, Afghanistan – A suicide attack on a NATO convoy killed three civilians and wounded nine others Thursday near the airport in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, a local official said.
The suicide attacker detonated explosives while in his vehicle, causing the casualties, said Zulmai Ayubi, a spokesman for the Kandahar governor. He did not have further details.
Coalition forces were engaged in an operation to clear areas around the city of Kandahar, a Taliban stronghold, and have said they expect heavy fighting.
A NATO spokesman confirmed one Afghan death and said the blast caused substantial damage to buildings in the immediate area and left a significant crater in the highway. NATO said the wounded civilians were medically evacuated. One coalition vehicle was damaged in the attack.
The Taliban claimed responsibility.
