KABUL — The U.S. military says eight American soldiers and two Afghans were killed in an attack on two outposts in remote eastern Afghanistan.
The military statement today said a tribal militia launched the attack from a mosque and a nearby village in Nuristan, one of the most dangerous regions of Afghanistan. The Americans and Afghans repelled Saturday’s attack and “inflicted heavy enemy casualties.” In the U.S. statement, Col. Randy George, described it as “a complex attack in a difficult area.”
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the assault.
The attack came a day after an Afghan policeman on patrol with U.S. soldiers opened fire on the Americans, killing two of them before fleeing, officials said Saturday, raising questions about discipline in the ranks of the Afghan forces and possible infiltration by insurgents.
Training and operating jointly with Afghan police and soldiers is key to the U.S. strategy of dealing with the spreading Taliban-led insurgency and, ultimately, allowing international forces to leave Afghanistan. But Afghan forces have periodically turned their guns on international soldiers.
The U.S. military said two American troops were killed by “an individual wearing an ANP (Afghan National Police) uniform” in Wardak province on Friday. Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the Wardak provincial governor, said the policeman fired on the Americans while they were patrolling together Friday night, killing two and wounding two.
Halim Fidai, governor of Wardak, said two people who recommended the alleged assailant for his job were in custody for questioning.
U.S. and NATO deaths dropped in September — possibly due to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan or because no major offensives were launched. But since President Barack Obama’s decision to send 21,000 more troops to curb the growing Taliban-led insurgency, international and civilian tolls have risen steadily.
