A US service member was killed and another wounded in an apparent insider attack in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, authorities said.
The service member, who was not identified, was the sixth American to be killed in Afghan war — the nation’s longest — so far this year.
The incident came two months after a member of a US army training unit was shot dead by an Afghan soldier in the southern province of Uruzgan.
“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,” said Gen. Scott Miller, who assumed command of NATO forces in Afghanistan on Sunday.
Insider attacks, often known as “green on blue” attacks in which Afghan service members or attackers wearing Afghan uniforms fire on US or coalition troops, have been a regular feature of the conflict in the war in Afghanistan, which began less than a month after the 9/11 attacks and is now the US’ longest war by far.
Coalition forces have also tightened security and added extra force protection measures including special “Guardian Angel” units to accompany training units.
Authorities said the wounded service member was in a stable condition but gave no further details, saying the victim’s name would be withheld until after next of kin were notified.
There have been at least 2,373 US military deaths in the Afghan war, while 20,320 American service members have been wounded.
Another 1,720 US civilian contractors were killed, and the Taliban still controls huge swaths of the countryside and have been launching attacks on government-controlled cities as well.
With Reuters
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