Afghan attack kills U.S. serviceman
A U.S. service member was killed and another wounded in eastern Afghanistan on Monday in what officials described as an apparent insider attack.
The attack was the second incident in less than two months in which a U.S. service member was killed by an Afghan security member.
The Resolute Support mission, which is under U.S. command, did not immediately identify the exact location of the incident or provide further details.
“The sacrifice of our service member, who volunteered for a mission to Afghanistan to protect his country, is a tragic loss for all who knew and all who will now never know him,” the U.S.’ top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller, said in a statement. “Our duty is to honor him, care for his family and continue our mission.”
The death is the first of a U.S. soldier since Miller on Sunday assumed his new position.
The Pentagon, which said the wounded service member was in stable condition, did not identify either service member, pending family notification.
Afghan officials said the incident happened just after noon at Forward Operating Base Shank, in Logar province southeast of Kabul.
“We had a security meeting and other security officials were visiting also, and a visiting policeman opened fire on an American military officer. He was hit from behind,” said Gen. Abdul Raziq, commander of the 4th Brigade of the Afghan army’s 203rd Corps, which operates out of the base. “We arrested the police officer, and according to the initial information, he said there was shooting already before he fired and the American was hit.”
Monday’s attack brings the number of U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan this year to six. About two months ago, a U.S. service member was killed during an attack at a base in Tarinkot, a town in Uruzgan province, where about 150 soldiers who are stationed in Kandahar often rotate through to train Afghan soldiers.
U.S. troops in Afghanistan today are mostly tasked with training and assisting the Afghan army. The war is now largely fought by Afghan security forces backed by U.S. air power.