KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide attack in front of a mosque in Afghanistan killed 16 people and wounded more than 30 others Thursday, a provincial governor said.
The attack took place as men were getting ready for evening prayer in Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province, Gov. Ghulam Dastagir Azad said.
In Ghazni province, militants ambushed a patrol of Afghan and foreign troops Thursday, and the ensuing clash left nine Taliban fighters dead, officials said. There were no casualties among the troops.
The insurgency has left more than 1,000 people dead so far this year, most of them militants, according to an Associated Press tally of figures provided by Afghan and Western officials.
Meanwhile, NATO acknowledged that a privately contracted helicopter had mistakenly dropped ammunition and supplies in an area where the items were picked up by the Taliban. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said Thursday that the shipment intended for police was mistakenly dropped in southern Zabul province.
