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| 2 US soldiers killed after Afghan Army soldier opens fire on them – local official | 2 US soldiers killed after Afghan Army soldier opens fire on them – local official |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Afghan official said that two American servicemen have been killed after coming under fire in a ‘green-on-blue’ attack in eastern Afghanistan, AP reports. | An Afghan official said that two American servicemen have been killed after coming under fire in a ‘green-on-blue’ attack in eastern Afghanistan, AP reports. |
| Attahullah Khogyani, a provincial spokesman in Nangarhar province, added on Saturday that two other soldiers were also injured in the attack, which was carried out by an Afghan soldier in the Achin district, where US and Afghan forces are carrying out joint operations against Taliban and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants. | |
| “Today at around noon an Afghan commando opened fire on US troops in Achin district, killing two American soldiers. The soldier was also killed in the return fire,” Khogyani told AFP. | |
| Although it was not immediately clear which, if any, militant group was behind the attack, Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province is thought to be a stronghold of IS. | |
| “The cause of the shooting is not clear. An investigation has already begun,” Khogyani said, according to Reuters. | |
| The US military has not yet released a statement on the incident. | The US military has not yet released a statement on the incident. |
| This type of incident, known as a ‘green-on-blue’ attack, is not uncommon in Afghanistan. In March, three American soldiers were wounded by an Afghan soldier at a base in Helmand province. | This type of incident, known as a ‘green-on-blue’ attack, is not uncommon in Afghanistan. In March, three American soldiers were wounded by an Afghan soldier at a base in Helmand province. |
| Members of the Afghan security forces, including the army and police, are often undisciplined, corrupt and/or have conflicting loyalties, which leaves these institutions vulnerable to infiltration by the Taliban and other militant groups. In the past, the Afghan government has been heavily criticized for its poor vetting process to weed out unsuitable or dangerous candidates. | Members of the Afghan security forces, including the army and police, are often undisciplined, corrupt and/or have conflicting loyalties, which leaves these institutions vulnerable to infiltration by the Taliban and other militant groups. In the past, the Afghan government has been heavily criticized for its poor vetting process to weed out unsuitable or dangerous candidates. |
| The attack comes soon after a case of friendly fire against Afghan forces. On Saturday, Afghan officials also confirmed that three policemen had been killed and two others wounded when a US aircraft opened fire during an operation in Helmand Province. | |
| “We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of the ABP [Afghan Border Police] members affected by this unfortunate incident,” read a statement from the US military, as quoted by Reuters. | |
| Afghan and American officials are investigating the incident. |