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3 Coalition Soldiers Are Shot Dead in Afghanistan 3 Coalition Soldiers Are Shot Dead in Afghanistan
(34 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A man in an Afghan National Army uniform killed three coalition soldiers on or near an American base on Saturday, according to Afghan officials.KABUL, Afghanistan — A man in an Afghan National Army uniform killed three coalition soldiers on or near an American base on Saturday, according to Afghan officials.
It was the first suspected insider attack since July. If confirmed, it would be the seventh this year, compared with about three times as many last year.It was the first suspected insider attack since July. If confirmed, it would be the seventh this year, compared with about three times as many last year.
Since this spring, Afghan forces have taken over at least nominal responsibility for combat operations throughout the country, meaning a greatly reduced number of joint operations. In addition, American and NATO forces have stepped up measures intended to stop insider attacks, including rules about not being alone with Afghan soldiers.Since this spring, Afghan forces have taken over at least nominal responsibility for combat operations throughout the country, meaning a greatly reduced number of joint operations. In addition, American and NATO forces have stepped up measures intended to stop insider attacks, including rules about not being alone with Afghan soldiers.
Gen. Dawlat Waziri, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, said the shooting took place around 10:30 a.m. in the city of Gardez in eastern Afghan province of Paktia, when a man dressed in an Afghan soldier’s uniform opened fire on foreign troops, killing three. Afghan National Army soldiers then shot the attacker to death, he said. Gen. Dawlat Waziri, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, said the shooting took place around 10:30 a.m. in the city of Gardez in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia, when a man dressed in an Afghan soldier’s uniform opened fire on foreign troops, killing three. Afghan National Army soldiers then shot the attacker to death, he said.
The NATO-led coalition, the International Security Assistance Force, confirmed the shooting, but declined to characterize it as an insider attack pending further investigation.The NATO-led coalition, the International Security Assistance Force, confirmed the shooting, but declined to characterize it as an insider attack pending further investigation.
“I.S.A.F. and Afghan officials are assessing the incident to determine the facts,” the coalition said in a news release.“I.S.A.F. and Afghan officials are assessing the incident to determine the facts,” the coalition said in a news release.
Neither Afghan nor American officials would identify the nationality of the victims, but most international troops in the area are American. One Afghan government official in Paktia Province, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to release details, confirmed that the attack took place inside the American base near Gardez, Forward Operation Base Lightning. Other officials did not confirm where in Gardez the shooting had taken place.Neither Afghan nor American officials would identify the nationality of the victims, but most international troops in the area are American. One Afghan government official in Paktia Province, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to release details, confirmed that the attack took place inside the American base near Gardez, Forward Operation Base Lightning. Other officials did not confirm where in Gardez the shooting had taken place.
He said that the victims were American Special Operations troops who had been training Afghan soldiers and that the attacker was an Afghan National Army soldier.He said that the victims were American Special Operations troops who had been training Afghan soldiers and that the attacker was an Afghan National Army soldier.

Sharifullah Sahak contributed reporting.

Sharifullah Sahak contributed reporting.