A man in an Afghan army uniform shot and killed two international service members Monday, March 26 inside a NATO base in southern Afghanistan, officials said.
The Associated Press reports that details were still sketchy about the morning attack. NATO said in a statement that an individual wearing an Afghan soldier's uniform turned his weapon against international troops. Coalition forces then returned fire.
"The gunman was shot and killed," said NATO spokesman Maj. Jason Waggoner. He declined to provide further details.
A Western official in southern Afghanistan confirmed that the incident happened at the main NATO base in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, but declined to give further information. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had not been officially released.
The attack appeared to be the latest in a string of so-called green-on-blue attacks in which Afghan security forces have turned on their international colleagues or mentors. Such attacks have become increasingly common over the past year.
There have also been incidents in which insurgents have donned Afghan uniforms to launch attacks.
Tensions between the U.S. and Afghanistan have been particularly strained following the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base in February. That act – which U.S. officials have said was a mistake – sparked riots and attacks that killed more than 30 people, including six American soldiers.
Afghans have also expressed outrage at the March 11 shooting spree allegedly by a U.S. soldier in which at least 16 villagers were killed, although the incident has not sparked the same level of public protests.
The Lashkar Gah base is dominated by British forces. Britain's Ministry of Defense said it was aware of the incident, but refused to release any more details or confirm whether the soldiers were British.
