US confirms four Americans killed in Afghanistan base blast

The Pentagon has confirmed that four Americans were killed in a blast at a base in Bagram, Afghanistan.

The Americans - two service members and two contractors - were killed at Bagram Airfield, the largest US military base in Afghanistan, early on Saturday.

No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast, which occurs as the Taliban steps up nationwide attacks before the onset of winter, when fighting usually ebbs.

“We can confirm that there was an explosion at Bagram Airfield this morning just after 5:30 am (0100 GMT). There have been casualties,” the military coalition said in a brief statement.

France condemned the attack and reiterated its support for those fighting terrorism in Afghanistan. "France reiterates its support for the American and Polish governments, whose citizens were hit in the attack," the Foreign Ministry said a statement.

(With Reuters)