KABUL (Reuters) - A Taliban suicide bomber dressed as a laborer blew himself up at the NATO air base at Bagram north of the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, killing four Americans and wounding at least 17 people in one of the bloodiest attacks against U.S. forces since President Barack Obama took office.

Two U.S. military service members and two U.S. contractors were killed, and 16 other U.S. service members were wounded, along with a Polish soldier who was part of the NATO mission, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement.

“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,” Carter said.

It was the deadliest attack on U.S. soldiers in the country since a suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed six American troops on patrol near Bagram in December 2015.

Carter said the Pentagon will investigate Saturday’s attack to determine what steps could be taken to improve protection for the base.

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The attack, which was claimed by the Taliban, underlines the foreign policy challenge that will face U.S. President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office in January.

President Barack Obama had originally hoped to have all U.S. forces out of the country by the end of his term, but was forced to abandon that goal as Afghan forces struggled to contain the Taliban insurgency.

Under current plans, 8,400 U.S. troops will remain as part of the Resolute Support operation and a separate U.S. counter terrorism mission after Obama decided to slow down a planned reduction of the force, leaving it to his successor to decide future strategy.

Waheed Sediqqi, spokesman for the Parwan provincial governor, said the bomber managed to enter the heavily protected site, the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan, and was standing in a line with Afghan laborers when he detonated a suicide vest.

The NATO-led Resolute Support mission response teams at the airfield were treating the wounded and investigating the incident.

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It follows a suicide attack on the German consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif late on Thursday night that killed four people and wounded more than 100 others. That attack was retaliation for air strikes near the northern city of Kunduz last week which killed more than 30 civilians.

The Taliban’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Saturday’s attack, which he said had been planned for four months, had caused heavy casualties, killing 23 Americans and wounding 44. The movement often exaggerates the number of casualties caused by its operations.</s></s>Two U.S. service members and two U.S. contractors have been killed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon.

An Islamic fundamentalist belonging to the radical group the Taliban wearing a suicide vest blew himself up inside NATO’s largest and one of the most secure military bases in Afghanistan early Saturday.

Another 16 U.S. service members and one Polish soldier were injured in the blast at Bagram Airfield, Defense Secretary Ash Carter confirmed in a statement.

“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,” Carter said. “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.”

The attack occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time as people were gathering for a post-Veterans Day fun run.

There was no immediate word on the identities of the victims. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, according to The Associated Press, which quoted a spokesman who said they have been planning the coordinated carnage for four months.

The suicide bomber chose the time and location because he “was looking for an opportunity to do the most damage,” a senior U.S. military official told NBC News.

“To the family and friends of those who lost their lives today, we share your loss and our thoughts are with you,” U.S. Army General John W. Nicholson said in the statement. “We offer you our deepest condolences. For the family and friends of those wounded in today’s attack, let me assure you they are receiving the best care possible, and we will keep them in our thoughts today.”

The base was put on lockdown following the attack.

Bagram Airfield features several layers of security, including retinal scans. It was unclear how someone got into the base with a suicide vest.</s>The Taliban has claimed responsibility for an explosion at the NATO air base at Bagram that killed four and wounded at least 14.

In a statement, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said an explosive device detonated at the base north of Kabul at dawn November 12, and that force-protection and medical teams were at the scene.

The victims were not identified.

There were no further details, but local media reported that a man posing as a laborer got access to the base and detonated a suicide vest.

Тhe Bagram base is one of the largest and most heavily protected military installions in Afghanistan and a bombing within the base’s perimeterwould represent a significant security breach.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted a statement on Twitter claiming responsibility for the blast.

Bagram has frequently come under attack by Taliban insurgents.

Last December, a motorcycle-riding Taliban suicide bomber killed six U.S. soldiers near the base, Afghanistan’s largest.

It was one of the deadliest attacks on foreign troops in the country in 2015.

Late on November 10, the Taliban carried out a suicide attack in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif that killed four people and wounded more than 100.

About 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed at Bagram on a mission to support and train Afghan security forces.

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
• Officials Fired By Ghani Last Year Behind Kunduz Crisis: Hashimi
• Hekmatyar Urges Trump To Withdraw U.S Forces From Afghanistan</s>"On November 12, an explosive device was detonated on Bagram Airfield resulting in multiple casualties," the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in a statement, adding that four people died and approximately 14 were injured.

"Response teams at Bagram continue to treat the wounded and investigate the incident," the statement said.

There was no immediate word on the identity of the victims.

The Taliban's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack in a message on his Twitter account.

The attack follows a suicide attack on the German consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif late on Thursday night which killed four people and wounded more than 100 others, underlining the precarious security across Afghanistan.

The Taliban said the attack in Mazar-i-Sharif was in retaliation for air strikes near the northern city of Kunduz last week which killed more than 30 civilians.

Details of Saturday's attack in Bagram remain unclear but local media reported that a man dressed as a laborer gained access to the heavily protected facility before detonating a suicide vest.</s>Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) Four Americans were killed in an apparent suicide bomb attack early Saturday at Bagram Airfield, the largest US base in Afghanistan, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said.

Two of those killed were service members, and two were contractors, he said, adding he was "deeply saddened" by the news.

The explosion also wounded 16 other US service members and one Polish soldier participating in the NATO mission, Carter said in a statement.

The Taliban claimed responsibility in a tweet praising the "strong attack" on Bagram Airfield.

In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said a suicide bomber had targeted "a sports ground where more than 100 military officers, important people and soldiers were busy exercising."

The attack on the airfield had been planned for four months, he said.

A NATO coalition official told CNN that the bomber, who is presumed dead, detonated the suicide bomb vest on a sidewalk near where people were preparing for a run.

The base was under lockdown, and additional security measures were instituted at all other locations in Afghanistan for the United States and coalition allies, the official said.

Carter offered his condolences to the families of those killed and said the injured were getting the best possible care.

"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," he said.

"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."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg offered his support on Twitter to those affected by the attack.

"NATO remains committed to our mission to train and support the Afghan forces. We all stand united in the fight against terrorism," he said in a statement.

The airfield is next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province. Bagram is more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Kabul, the Afghan capital.

Urgent investigations are being carried out at the base, and security has been tightened, according to CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. The military will want to ensure that anyone tied to the blast is found before people are allowed to leave the base.

"The question now is, how did someone get inside?" she said. "There's very strict security at these bases. ... If you come in a vehicle, you are stopped well before the outside gate. Vehicles are searched, people are searched, people must have ID -- so it's very difficult to understand right now how this happened."

There are about 14,000 people on the Bagram base, with about 60% contractors, according to Starr. Locals move on and off the base in some contractor roles, she said.

Security breaches at coalition bases in Afghanistan have occurred but are rare, she added.

Monir Ahmad Farhad, a provincial spokesman, said four people were killed and more 100 people were injured in the attack in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital. No German diplomats were hurt. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Those deaths happened the same day Taliban mortars killed at least seven people at a wedding party in Faryab province in northern Afghanistan, police spokesman Kareem Youresh said. At least 13 people were wounded.</s>Two U.S. military service members and two U.S. contractors were killed, and 16 other U.S. service members were wounded, along with a Polish soldier who was part of the NATO mission, U.S. Secretary of State Ash Carter said in a statement.

"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," Carter said.

He said the military will investigate what happened to determine what steps could be taken to improve protection for the base.

The attack, which was claimed by the Taliban, underlines the foreign policy challenge that will face U.S. President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office in January.

President Barack Obama had originally hoped to have all U.S. forces out of the country by the end of his term, but was forced to abandon that goal as Afghan forces struggled to contain the Taliban insurgency.

Under current plans, 8,400 U.S. troops will remain as part of the Resolute Support operation and a separate U.S. counterterrorism mission after Obama decided to slow down a planned reduction of the force, leaving it to his successor to decide future strategy.

Waheed Sediqqi, spokesman for the Parwan provincial governor, said the bomber managed to enter the heavily protected site, the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan, and was standing in a queue with Afghan laborers when he detonated a suicide vest.

The NATO-led Resolute Support mission response teams at the airfield were treating the wounded and investigating the incident.

It follows a suicide attack on the German consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif late on Thursday night that killed four people and wounded more than 100 others. That attack was retaliation for air strikes near the northern city of Kunduz last week which killed more than 30 civilians.

The Taliban's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Saturday's attack, which he said had been planned for four months, had caused heavy casualties, killing 23 Americans and wounding 44. The movement often exaggerates the number of casualties caused by its operations.</s>A Taliban suicide bomber dressed as a labourer blew himself up at the NATO air base at Bagram north of the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, killing at least four people and wounding 18, officials said.



 "An explosive device was detonated on Bagram Air field resulting in multiple casualties," the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said in a statement.



 "Response teams at Bagram continue to treat the wounded and investigate the incident," the statement said.



 Waheed Sediqqi, spokesman for the Parwan provincial governor, said the bomber managed to enter the heavily protected site, the largest U.S. Base in Afghanistan, and was standing in a queue with Afghan labourers when he detonated a suicide vest.



 Sediqqi said four people were killed and 18 wounded. There was no immediate word on the identity of the victims.



 The attack, which was claimed by the Taliban, underlines the foreign policy challenge that will face U.S. President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office in January.



 It follows a suicide attack on the German consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif late on Thursday night which killed four people and wounded more than 100 others. That attack was retaliation for air strikes near the northern city of Kunduz last week which killed more than 30 civilians.



 The Taliban's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Saturday's attack, which he said had been planned for four months, had caused heavy casualties, killing 23 Americans and wounding 44.The movement often exaggerates the number of casualties caused by its operations.



 President Barack Obama had originally hoped to have all U.S. Forces out of the country by the end of his term but was forced to abandon that aim as Afghan forces struggled to contain the Taliban insurgency.



 Under current plans, 8,400 U.S. Troops will remain as part of the Resolute Support operation and a separate U.S. Counter terrorism mission after Obama decided to slow down a planned reduction of the force, leaving it to his successor to decide future strategy.</s>KABUL, Afghanistan — NATO says an explosion inside Bagram Airfield, a large U.S. base north of Kabul, has caused casualties.

The statement issued by Operation Resolute Support says the blast happened early Saturday and that "force protection and medical teams are responding to the situation," without providing further details.

The Taliban have fired rockets at Bagram in the past. Afghan officials confirm reports of the explosion but could not provide further details because they do not have access to the base.</s>Deadly attack at largest US military base in Afghanistan blamed on suicide bomber posing as labourer

KABUL: Four people were killed yesterday in an explosion inside the largest US military base in Afghanistan, Nato said, with local officials blaming a suicide attacker posing as a labourer for the major security breach.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast inside the heavily fortified Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, which wounded 14 others as the insurgents ramp up their nationwide offensive before the onset of winter, when fighting usually ebbs.

The nationalities of those killed and wounded were not immediately known after the explosion, which highlights rising insecurity in Afghanistan nearly two years after US-led Nato forces formally ended their combat operations.

“An explosive device was detonated on Bagram Airfield resulting in multiple casualties. Four people have died in the attack and approximately 14 have been wounded,” Nato said in a statement.

“Response teams at Bagram continue to treat the wounded and investigate the incident.”

The blast was caused by a suicide attacker who blew himself up near a dining facility inside the base, said Waheed Sediqi, spokesman for the governor of Parwan province where Bagram is located.

“We don’t know the identity of victims yet but the attacker was one of the Afghan labourers working there,” Sediqi told AFP.

Bagram district governor Abdul Shakoor Quddusi described the explosion around 0100 GMT as “powerful”, saying it reverberated across the area.

The United States has around 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, with the largest contingent stationed at the Bagram base.

The brazen attack represents a major security breach inside what is regarded as one of the most heavily guarded military installations in Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgent group was behind the suicide attack inside Bagram, claiming it inflicted “heavy casualties on US invaders”.

Bagram Airfield has frequently come under attack by Taliban insurgents.

Last December, a motorcycle-riding Taliban suicide bomber killed six US soldiers near the base in one of the deadliest attacks on foreign troops in the country in 2015.

The latest assault came after a powerful Taliban truck bomb struck the German consulate in Afghanistan’s northern Mazar-i-Sharif city late Thursday, killing at least six people and wounding more than 100 others.

The uptick in attacks against Western targets comes just days after a bitter US presidential election. Afghanistan got scarcely a passing mention in the election campaign — even though the situation there will be an urgent matter for the new president. – AFP
2016 Bagram Airfield bombing: An explosion at NATO's Bagram Airfield kills four Americans and injures at least 16 U.S. service members and a Polish soldier. The Taliban claims responsibility.