• At least 16 Pakistani soldiers killed in a suicide bombing in North Waziristan.
• The attack targeted a military convoy, injuring civilians and security personnel.
• The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A suicide bombing in North Waziristan, targeting a military convoy, has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 soldiers and injuries to numerous others, including civilians, according to local officials and police reports. The explosion occurred on Saturday morning in the Khadi Market area of Mir Ali, part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, when an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into a convoy, as reported by officials from various sources, including India Times, AA, and SCMP.

The explosion injured at least 14 civilians, including children, with reports stating the blast caused the roofs of nearby houses to collapse. Local officials noted the rising toll, confirming that casualties had increased from initial estimates, where reports indicated 13 deaths among soldiers, as outlined by TRT and Al Jazeera.

The attack has been attributed to a faction of the Pakistani Taliban known as the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, claiming it was part of a broader pattern of violence since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan. The Pakistani military has ramped up operations in response to increased militant activity, with accusations directed at Afghan nationals regarding their involvement in cross-border attacks, according to sources including Channel News Asia and Reuters.

This incident is among the deadliest attacks on security personnel in recent months, reflecting a disturbing increase in such violence within the region. This attack coincides with a broader trend of militant organizations utilizing increasingly lethal tactics against military and civilian targets in Pakistan, as discussed by Los Angeles Times and Dawn.