Three US soldiers killed in Afghan 'insider attack' in Nangarhar

An Afghan commando who opened fire on American troops killed three of them and wounded another, United States (US) and Afghan officials said, in an insider attack that was claimed by the Taliban.
The so-called “green-on-blue” attack on Saturday is the latest in a line of incidents where Afghan soldiers have turned their weapons on international forces they are working with.
It also comes as the Taliban ramp up their campaign against the government in Afghanistan, and as US President Donald Trump mulls sending more troops into the lengthy conflict.
Nangarhar provincial spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP the Afghan commando had opened fire on US troops during an operation in the volatile Achin district.
“The (Afghan) soldier was also killed in the return fire,” he said.
The Pentagon said the families of the three dead soldiers were being informed.
“One US soldier was wounded and has been evacuated for medical treatment,” a spokesman added. “This incident is under investigation.”
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the deaths, saying the attack was carried out by an infiltrator.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed on Twitter that four US soldiers were killed in the attack. The insurgents are known to exaggerate battlefield claims.
Achin is also contested by the militant Islamic State (IS) group.
In April, the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat on a complex of caves in Achin used by IS fighters.
The deployment of the so-called 'Mother Of All Bombs' killed dozens of suspected militants but fighting in the area has continued.
American troops have partnered with Afghan soldiers in raids against IS Khorasan, claiming the local offshoot of the militant group based in Iraq and Syria is steadily losing ground in Afghanistan.Earlier on Saturday, the US military confirmed that during an overnight joint operation against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, US air strikes mistakenly killed at least eight Afghan soldiers and wounded many more.
Later, an Afghan army commando opened fire at US soldiers at a base in the Achin district of Nangarhar province and killed two US soldiers and injured two more. The Afghan soldier was killed in return fire.
White House Deputy Communications Director Raj Shah said President Trump had been informed of the situation.
Such insider attacks have happened before in Afghanistan, resulting in both death and injuries to US and Nato soldiers.
The US air strikes that killed eight Afghan soldiers happened in the insurgent-held Nad Ali district of embattled Helmand, the US army said but gave no details.
“During an ANDSF [Afghan National Defence and Security Forces] and US partnered operation, fires resulted in the deaths and injuries to members of the Afghan Border Police,” said an official US statement.
An investigation is underway to determine circumstances that led to the “unfortunate” incident,” it added.
The US military would like to express its “deepest” condolences to the families of the victims, the statement said.
A spokesman for the insurgency claimed that Afghan forces “dressed like Taliban” had taken up positions in the Loe Bagh area of the district to ambush Taliban insurgents when jet planes “bombed and killed tens of them.”

Mistrust bred by errant air strikes

Green-on-blue attacks have been a major problem during Nato's long years fighting alongside Afghan forces.
Western officials say most insider attacks stem from personal grudges and cultural misunderstandings rather than insurgent plots.
Saturday's attack came just hours after an errant US air strike killed and wounded at least six Afghan policemen in southern Helmand province, in the latest “friendly fire” incident.
Such strikes have bred deep mistrust between local and foreign forces.
Three US troops were wounded in March when an Afghan soldier opened fire in Helmand, in the first known insider attack on international forces this year.
Similar incidents have also plagued Afghan troops, depleting morale and causing mistrust within security ranks.
The latest killings come at a time of intensified violence and when the US is considering sending more troops to Afghanistan.
The Afghan conflict is the longest in American history, with US-led Nato troops at war there since 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime.
US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from Nato allies, who mainly serve in a training and advisory capacity.
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