At Least 17 Killed in Attacks in Afghanistan

At least 17 people were killed in a series of attacks across Afghanistan Saturday, including three coalition service members.
In the north, officials say a motorcycle bomb killed eight people and wounded several others in a market in Kunduz province.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the market attack.

In eastern Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents attacked an observation post at the Jalalabad city airport.

NATO said its troops repelled the attack, killing six militants. Earlier reports had a higher number of deaths. Witnesses said three of the dead fighters were dressed in Afghan army uniforms.

NATO also said three of its soldiers died in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.

The attacks came a day after a suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy on the outskirts of the capital, Kabul, signaling a possible spike in violence in the lead-up to two important international events regarding the conflict in Afghanistan.

NATO leaders gather in Lisbon next week with Afghanistan set to be on top of the agenda as European members reassess their commitments amid flagging support back home for the war.

U.S. President Barack Obama will also review his Afghanistan war strategy next month. He has expressed his commitment to starting a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops in July of next year.