Seven American troops were wounded Saturday in an insider attack by an Afghan soldier at a military base, as the U.S. appears set to boost its troop presence in the country.
If confirmed as an incident among joint forces, it would mark the second time in a week that members of allied Afghan troops opened fire on USA counterparts. "We will not be deterred".
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group took responsibility for the attack, claiming they had killed and injured tens of police officers.
The US soldiers were evacuated after the "insider attack" a spokesman for the US military command said. The so-called green-on-blue attacks have been a recurring problem for the American training mission in the country. Both Afghan and USA officials have said the incident is under investigation.
U.S. soldiers of Task Force Iron, taking part in Operation Resoulte Support, manuever a howitzer into position at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 10.
Coalition countries, led by the USA, are considering sending thousands more troops to Afghanistan to help advise and assist Afghan forces struggling against Taliban and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.
Thomas shoots 63, trails Harman by 1 in US Open
Fleetwood said he must stay in the zone he has enjoyed all week in the rolling Wisconsin countryside. "It was a good save, though. It was a good bogey", he said. "It means I have a lot better chance to win the tournament than I did when the day started".
Afghan Special Forces also arrived at the site shortly after the incident occurred and sealed off the area.
'One (attacker) blew up his vehicle at the entrance of the headquarters, opening the way for two others who opened fire on the security forces.
The increase in insider attacks in recent months has anxious coalition officials.
US President Donald Trump is learned to have delegated authority on the number of troops in Afghanistan to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
"The Taliban have been able to bring in soldiers into the Afghan army and make them sleepers, as it were, until the right time", journalist Ahmed Rashid told Weekend All Things Considered in April. Since 2001, more than 2,000 American troops have been killed in combat and noncombat roles in the country.
United States troops are also at risk in other parts of Afghanistan.
Comments