A suicide car bomber struck an armored vehicle carrying U.S. soldiers near the Kabul airport Thursday, killing six Afghan civilians, officials said.
None of the four American troops in the targeted vehicle appeared to be badly wounded, an Associated Press photographer at the scene said. A U.S. spokesman, Army Lt. Col. David Johnson, said the vehicle that was struck had come from the U.S. military base in Kabul, Camp Eggers, but he had no other immediate details.
The fiery hull of the bomber's car was left burning on the main airport road. Several other vehicles were damaged in the explosion, though the armored truck the targeted soldiers were riding in appeared to have sustained minimal damage.
Deputy Interior Minister Munir Mangal said six Afghan civilians were killed and up to 20 others were wounded in the blast.
U.S. troops and international security contractors surrounded the area after the attack.