Srinagar: In the deadliest attack in Jammu and Kashmir this year, an army convoy on the Srinagar-Baramulla Highway was targetted by the terrorists who detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) killing nine army personnel and injuring over 15.

The convoy was going from Kupwara to Srinagar when the IED blast took place on the highway.

The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital. Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility to the attack.

Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel AK Mathur confirmed that nine soldiers have died in the blast.

Injured have been taken to hospital. It was an IED blast. Infiltration is going on but the Army is on alert and taking necessary steps to tackle the situation,” Lieutenant Colonel Mathur said.

This is the second attack in two days on the security forces in J&K.

There was a grenade attack on a Central Reserve Police Force vehicle near Banihal on Friday in which 24 people were injured.