Three American soldiers killed by suicide bomber in Zabul

Three US soldiers were named as victims of a suicide bomber who struck their convoy with a car on 6th April 2013.

The soldiers were part of a convoy of officials travelling to a school in Qalot, the provincial capital of Zabul province, to donate books for the students there. The suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into the convoy, killing six people and injuring at least ten more.

The soldiers, all serving with the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, were named by the US Department of Defense as:

24-year-old Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 25-year-old Spc. Wilbel Robles-Santa and 24-year-old Spc. Deflin M. Santos Jr.

Also among the victims was US Diplomat Anne Smedinghoff aged 25.

More information to follow.

US Diplomat Anne Smedinghoff

25-year-old US diplomat Anne Smedinghoff, was among a group of six killed on 6th April 2013 by a suicide bomber who drove a car into a convoy of American military and civilian personnel. The attack happened in Zabul province.

Ms Smedinghoff, from Chicago, Illinois, joined the US Foreign Service after she graduated from University in 2009. She had previously served in Venezuela.

She was an Assistant Information Officer and had volunteered for the Afghanistan posting. At the time of the attack, her group were on their way to deliver a consignment of books to a local school in Qalot, the provincial capital.

Six Americans killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan

Six American citizens lost their lives today (6th April 2013) in a day of violence across Afghanistan.

Five were killed by a suicide car-bomber in Qalat, Zabul province. They were in a convoy of vehicles heading for a local school to give books to students, when the bomber struck. Three American military personnel, a female officer with the State Foreign Service Department and a civilian with the Department of Defense were killed. 10 people were injured by the blast, one State Department employee critically.

In a separate incident, an American civilian was killed in eastern Afghanistan during an insurgent attack.

More information to follow.

British soldier dies in hospital after being wounded during enemy action in Helmand

A British soldier from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment has died in hospital from injuries received on 25th March.

The soldier was wounded during enemy action in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand. The soldier was evacuated to a military hospital at Camp Bastion but died before being flown to the UK.

Ten other soldiers were injured in the attack, suspected to be a suicide bomb.

The soldier has been named as Lance Corporal Jamie Webb.

US soldier killed by suicide bomb at Kandahar

A Taliban suicide car bomber killed one American soldier and two Afghan civilians on Thursday 13th December 2012. The incident occurred near Kandahar Airport, shortly after US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta left the base.

According to Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the suicide bomber targeted a moving vehicle near the access gate to the military zone at the airport.

Mr. Panetta confirmed the death of one American soldier and said three others had been wounded in the attack. General Azimi confirmed the deaths of two Afghan civilians and fourteen wounded.

British woman, Jeni Ayris, among victims of Kabul suicide bombing

British woman Jeni Ayris, from Edinburgh, was one of twelve aviation workers killed in Kabul on Tuesday 18th September 2012 when a female insurgent rammed a car laden with explosives into their minibus as they drove to Kabul airport.

Ms Ayris, who was born in South Africa but held British nationality, had been working in Afghanistan for just over a year as a customer relations manager for aviation firm Air Charter Solutions/BalmOral, organising private flights for charities and NGOs into and out of the country.

Eight South African colleagues of Ms Ayris also died in the attack.

Read the full story at the Daily Mail

Eight South Africans killed in Kabul suicide bombing named

Eight South African aviation workers in Kabul were killed on Tuesday 18th September 2012 when a female insurgent rammed a car laden with explosives into their minibus as they drove to Kabul airport.

They were working in Afghanistan for aviation firm Air Charter Solutions/BalmOral, organising private flights for charities and NGOs into and out of the country.

Their names have been released by the South African Department of International Relations and Co-operation.

"The Department has consulted with the families of the deceased and hereby releases their names with permission from their families," said spokesman Nelson Kgwete in a statement on Wednesday.

The victims were:

Christian Johannes Justus Pretorius, 30, from Pretoria, Gauteng

Fraser Angus Carey, 31, from Johannesburg, Gauteng

Brandon Quinn Booth, 47, from Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal

Johan Abraham van Huyssteen, 31, from Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Johan Frederick Bouchaud, 30, from Johannesburg, Gauteng

Johannes Judenis Humphries, 65, from Centurion, Gauteng

Steven Leong, 31, from Johannesburg, Gauteng

Jenny Margaret Ayris, 46, from Scotland in the United Kingdom

French Army Sergeant Yoann Marcillan

24-year-old French Army Sergeant Yoann Marcillan, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

He was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

Sergeant Marcillan joined the French Army in October 2007. In 2009 he was based in New Caledonia and in September that year, deployed to Kosovo as part of a Liaison and Intelligence unit.

Newly promoted in October 2010, he was assigned to the Logistics group as a fire-control officer. He further volunteered for 2 Intelligence Brigade. He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2012.

French Army Sergeant Pierre-Olivier Lumineau

26-year-old French Army Sergeant-chef Pierre-Olivier Lumineau, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

He was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

He attended the French Military's National School of NCOs from May 2010. He was appointed Sergeant in September that year. In December, he was posted to 2 Intelligence Brigade based at Suippes.

He deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year as part of a Tactical Operations Team (ETOMI) based in Kapisa.

French Army Sergeant-chef Stéphane Prudhom

32-year-old French Army Sergeant-chef (Chief Warrant) Stéphane Prudhom, serving with the 40th Artillery Regiment, was one of four French military personnel killed by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman and wearing a burqa on 9th June 2012.

Chief Warrant Prudhom was among a unit of French forces who were responding to a report of a bomb planted under a bridge. They were in the main market area of the Nijrab district in eastern Kapisa province when the bomber walked up to them and detonated his explosives.

He joined the French Army in November 1999 and served with the 2nd Hussars as a scout for four years. In June 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant. In 2009, he joined the 40th Artillery Regiment

During his service, he deployed on six overseas operations: The former Yugoslavia in 2000, Kosovo in 2002 and 2006, Côte d'Ivoire in 2005, Afghanistan in 2006 and Chad in 2008. He deployed on the current mission to Afghanistan in March 2012.

He held the Gold Medal of National Defence, the Medal with Overseas clip "Republic of Côte d'Ivoire" and the French Commemorative Medal with clasps "Former Yugoslavia" and "Afghanistan."

He was the father of two children aged 3 and 1 years old.

US Private Contractor Matthew Lemmon

45-year-old American citizen Matthew Lemmon, from Memphis, was killed in Kabul on 29th October 2011 when a suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into a NATO armored bus which Mr. Lemmon was travelling in.

Matthew Lemmon, a heating and air-conditioning engineer, had taken the job in Afghanistan as a way to increase earnings and help his family. He had taken a three-week break from the job in early October and returned to Afghanistan on 24th October.

He leaves his wife Kim, their two children, Zachary (15) and Lily (3) and other relatives and friends.

California National Guard Sergeant Carlo Eugenio

29-year-old US Army Sergeant Carlo F. Eugenio was killed in Kabul on 29th October 2011 when a suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into an armored military bus that he was travelling in.

Sgt. Eugenio, from Rancho Cucamonga, California, served with the 756th Transportation Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, based at Van Nuys. He deployed to Afghanistan in August on a one-year mission. Previously he had served in Kuwait. 

He was the youngest of five children and lived in Fontana before moving to Rancho Cucamonga around 10 years ago.

Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, Adjutant General for the California National Guard, said in a press statement: "We extend our heartfelt condolences to Sgt. Eugenio's family and commit to them our unwavering support. Sgt. Eugenio's death, the first of a California Guardsman in Afghanistan, is a painfully wrenching testimony to the bravery, service and sacrifice of our state's National Guardsmen."

US Army Sergeant James Darrough

38-year-old US Army Sergeant James M. Darrough was killed in Kabul on 29th October 2011 when a suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into an armored military bus that Sgt. Darrough was travelling in.

Sgt. Darrough, from Austin, Texas, was a financial management technician serving with the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell.

Sgt. Darrough leaves his wife, Isaura Darrough, sons Justin and Jared and daughters Julianna and Jenna, all of Clarksville, Tennessee, his mother Janelle Darrough of Livingston, Texas and his father Robert Darrough of Charlotte, North Carolina.

US Army Lt. Colonel David Cabrera

US Army Lieutenant Colonel David E. Cabrera, age 41, was one of the victims of a suicide car bomber who rammed an armored bus in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 29th October 2011.

Lt. Col. Cabrera, from Abilene, Texas, was Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.

More information to follow.

US Military victims of Kabul suicide bomb

Four American servicemen were among the victims of the Kabul suicide bomb attack on a NATO armored bus. They died on 29th October 2011. They have been named as:

Lt. Col. David E. Cabrera, 41, of Abilene, Texas, assigned to Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda.

Staff Sgt. Christopher R. Newman, 26, of Shelby, N.C., assigned to Medical Company A, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii.

Sgt. James M. Darrough, 38, of Austin, Texas, assigned to 101st Finance Company, 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell.

Sgt. Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., assigned to 756th Transportation Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, Van Nuys.

US Army Sergeant Christopher Newman

US Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Rod Newman, age 26, was a victim of the Kabul suicide bomber who rammed a car packed with explosives into a NATO armored bus on 29th October 2011.

Staff Sgt. Newman, from Shelby, North Carolina, served with Medical Company A, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii. He deployed to Afghanistan in May this year and was due to return home for two weeks leave next month.

Staff Sgt. Newman leaves his wife Amanda and 5-year-old daughter among other loving relatives and friends.

Scottish construction worker among Kabul dead

Scottish construction worker, David Quinn, from Airdrie, Lanarkshire, was killed on 29th October 2011 in Kabul, when a suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into an armoured NATO bus.

Mr. Quinn was working for Texas-based construction firm Fluor Corporation in the country. He was a former pupil at Caldervale High School in Airdrie and leaves his wife Jane and daughter Sophie.

Other victims of the attack included British construction worker Stephen Brown, who also worked for Fluor Corp., Canadian soldier Master Corporal Byron Greff, four US soldiers, a civilian from Kosovo and five American civilians.

Two British contractors killed in Kabul suicide bombing

Two British electrical engineers were among those killed on 29th October 2011 in Kabul when a suicide car bomber rammed the armored bus they were travelling in.

The men, aged 34 and 52, were locally named as David Quinn and Stephen Brown. They were working for Texas-based Fluor Corporation which holds various NATO engineering and construction contracts.

Video: Kabul suicide bomb attack 29 October 2011

13 ISAF members dead in Kabul suicide car bombing

KABUL: Five International Security Assistance Force service members and eight ISAF civilian employees died following a suicide vehicle-born improvised explosive device attack in Kabul on 29th October 2011.

One of the ISAF service members has been named as Canadian Master Corporal Byron Greff.

More information to follow.