By Fatma Bulbul
ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the terror attack in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province that left more than 41 soldiers dead on Thursday.
In a written statement, the ministry said: “We condemn this terrorist attack, wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives, speedy recovery to the wounded, and convey our condolences to the brotherly Government and people of Afghanistan. ”
The Afghan Defense Ministry confirmed 43 soldiers were killed in a Taliban-claimed twin car bomb and gun attack early Thursday.
In a statement, the MoD acknowledged that the soldiers in the remote Maiwand district of Kandahar province were targeted by the Taliban in twin suicide car bombings followed by an armed assault.
“At around 2.50 a.m. in the morning (2220GMT Wednesday), a group of attackers attacked the Afghan National Army base in Maiwand district of Kandahar.
“There were 60 Afghan National Army (ANA) forces stationed there. In the clashes, 43 have embraced martyrdom, 9 are wounded, 6 are missing and 2 have survived “, Gen. Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the MoD said.
Two armored vehicles stolen from the security forces in previous clashes were used for the suicide bombings, according to Janan Gulzay, member of the provincial council in Kandahar.
The attacks come two days after similar massive suicide car bombings in Paktia and Ghazni provinces that killed over 70 people.
Qari Yosuf Ahmadi, spokesman for the Taliban in the south of Afghanistan, has claimed the latest attack. He said in a statement sent to the media that 60 soldiers had been killed at the ANA base in Maiwand.
