The NATO-led multi-national force in Afghanistan says an American and a Romanian soldiers were killed “in action” Thursday in the capital Kabul, raising the number of U.S. military fatalities to 16 this year.The Resolute Support mission did not immediately disclose additional details, citing policy restrictions.The announcement came hours after the Taliban took responsibility for a suicide car bombing in the city that the insurgent group claimed killed foreign and local military personnel.Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi confirmed in a statement the blast killed a least 10 people and injured 42 others. He asserted all the victims were civilians.The bombing occurred in an area of downtown Kabul that houses NATO’s headquarters, U.S. embassy and the office of the Afghan spy agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS). The blast destroyed several vehicles and nearby shops.The Taliban said they also were behind Thursday’s car bomb attack near a security meeting of local and foreign personnel in the eastern Logar province. Afghan officials confirmed the killing of four civilians in that attack, saying it also injured 11 others.The Taliban continues to launch deadly attacks even as its leaders are negotiating a deal with the U.S. on a foreign troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for security assurances.The insurgent group also took credit for Monday’s suicide bombing on a compound in another part of Kabul housing international organizations and offices of diplomats. That attack killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 100 others.Afghan media reported at least eight foreigners were among the dead, including a staff member at Romania’s embassy in the country.
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