KABUL, Afghanistan >> A suicide car bomber attacked an Afghan army vehicle Sunday in southern Afghanistan, killing five civilians and wounding 36, authorities said.

The blast also wounded four Afghan army soldiers in the Maywand district of Kandahar province, local government spokesman Dawkhan Menapal said.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack.

Afghan security forces are frequently targeted by insurgents. Violence has intensified in the country as most international troops prepare to withdraw at the end of the year.

Separately Sunday, NATO said one of its service members died as a result of a non-battle related injury in the country’s north. The NATO force said the death occurred Sunday but gave no other details. Coalition policy is for home countries to identify their military dead.