Two American soldiers killed in apparent insider attack in Afghanistan

Two American soldiers have been killed in an apparent insider attack in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar.

The NATO military alliance’s so-called Resolute Support (RS) mission announced the deaths in a statement on Monday, without giving further details.

Mohammad Qasam, a deputy police chief in Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan, said the attack took place at an Afghan army base during a visit by US forces.

“Initial information was two US forces have been killed and one more wounded,” Qasam said.

A US official, who asked not to be named, similarly said initial information showed it had been was a “green-on-blue” attack (or an insider attack) — in which Afghan service members or militants disguised in Afghan uniforms fire on US or coalition troops, Reuters reported.

The source said the incident happened in Kandahar Province, stressing that the initial information could change.

The deaths bring the number of US forces killed in Afghanistan this month to three and at least 11 in 2019.

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001. While the invasion ended the Taliban’s rule in the country, it has failed to eliminate the militant group. The Daesh terrorist group has also emerged in the Asian country more recently.

The attacks come as the United States continues to negotiate a peace deal with the leading perpetrator of attacks across Afghanistan, the Taliban militant group, which targets mostly Afghan civilians and security forces.

MG