March 19 (UPI) — At least three U.S. Army soldiers were shot and wounded by an Afghan Army soldier in an “insider attack.” The Afghan Army soldier opened fire during a military exercise at a base in southern Afghanistan.
“Coalition security forces on the base killed the soldier to end the attack,” Capt. Bill Salvin, spokesman for U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan, told Fox News. “The U.S. soldiers are receiving medical treatment at this time, and we will release more information when available.”
Several similar insider attacks have taken place in Afghanistan in recent months.
The attack occurred on a base in Helmand, Afghanistan’s largest province and one of the most turbulent. Much of Helmand is either controlled or influenced by the Taliban.
U.S. Army soldiers in Helmand are preparing to be relieved of their duties by a group 300 U.S marines. The Pentagon is considering sending additional troops to Afghanistan.
Gen. John Nicholson, the United States’ top commander in Afghanistan, told Congress earlier this year his troops need help training Afghan Army soldiers.
