The Pentagon has identified the two U.S. soldiers among four Americans killed in a suicide bombing at the largest NATO military base in Afghanistan on Saturday.
Sgt. John W. Perry of Stockton, California, and Pfc. Tyler R. Iubelt of Tamaroa, Illinois, died from injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device, or IED, at Bagram Airfield early Saturday, the Pentagon said in a statement on Monday morning.
Perry, Iubelt, and two American contractors were killed in the blast that occurred inside the military base. The explosion also wounded 16 other U.S. service members and a Polish soldier taking part in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter confirmed the apparent suicide attack in a statement Saturday, saying that the Pentagon would conduct an investigation into the incident. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
"Force protection is always a top priority for us in Afghanistan, and we will investigate this tragedy to determine any steps we can take to improve it," Carter said Saturday. "For those who carried out this attack, my message is simple. We will not be deterred in our mission to protect our homeland and help Afghanistan secure its own future."
The Pentagon did not release the identities of the American service members until Monday morning, pending notification of their families. Both soldiers were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas.
The attack occurred in Bagram around 5:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, the day after the United States honored Veterans Day. An unnamed U.S. military official told NBC News that the suicide bomber launched the attack at the particular time and location in order to "do the most damage."
The casualties are the latest in a string of American deaths in Afghanistan. U.S. service members and allied troops are conducting a train, advise, and assist mission to help local Afghan forces degrade the Taliban in the region.