By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA): A car-suicide bombing in Afghanistan’s Khost province has claimed at least 18 lives on the first day of holy month of Ramadan in the country.

Locals told Anadolu Agency the attacker apparently targeted the Afghan security forces’ convoy in the provincial capital Khost City.

Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has said in a tweet that 18 people have died, mostly civilians, 6 including two children are wounded. It is not clear how many civilians and security forces have been killed in this attack.

Mohammadeen Mohammadi, head of the public health department in the province, told Anadolu Agency at least one injured civilian is in critical state.

The security forces were attacked near the province’s main bus station damaging or destroying around a dozen shops and several vehicles.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack in a media statement.

Meanwhile, at least six civilians and 15 fighters from an Islamic State group affiliate were killed in eastern Nangarhar province, said Attullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The first day of Ramadan is public holiday in Afghanistan. In clear defiance to the United Nation’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)’s call for cease-fire in this holy month, the Taliban announced on Friday they would in fact intensify their attacks this month.

[Photo: Woundeds receive treatment at hospital after the blast killing at least 10 civilians in Adraskan district of Herat, Afghanistan on May 27, 2017. Photographer: Muhabiri Mir Ahmad Firooz/AA]