{"id":72639,"date":"2020-02-08T19:00:26","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T19:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/08\/report-says-multiple-us-troops-killed-in-afghanistan-firefight\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:43:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:43:25","slug":"report-says-multiple-us-troops-killed-in-afghanistan-firefight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/02\/08\/report-says-multiple-us-troops-killed-in-afghanistan-firefight\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Special Force soldiers killed, 6 wounded during apparent insider attack in Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Two U.S. troops were killed and six were wounded in an apparent insider attack in Afghanistan according to military officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldiers were involved in a firefight on Feb. 8 in Sherzad district, Nangarhar province. The wounded service members are receiving medical treatment at a U.S. facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afghanistan\u2019s defense ministry said one Afghan soldier was also killed and three injured in the assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUpon completing a key-leader engagement at the district center, current reports indicate an individual in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined U.S. and Afghan force with a machine gun,\u201d Army Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, said in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are still collecting information and the cause or motive behind the attack is unknown at this time. The incident is under investigation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Associated Press reported that a member of Nagarhar\u2019s provincial council said that the gunman was killed, but neither the U.S. military nor the Afghan defense ministry has confirmed to the AP the attacker\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this evening, notifications began going out to the families of members of the 7th Special Forces group killed and wounded in an Afghanistan firefight, the group posted on its Facebook page Saturday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeveral 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers were injured or killed during combat operations in Afghanistan on February 8, 2020. The 7th Special Forces Group Headquarters is poised to support the Service Members and their families during this difficult time,\u201d said Col. John W. Sannes, 7th Special Forces Group Commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe families of the deceased and wounded are being notified. In accordance with DoD policy, the names of the casualties are being withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin notification is complete.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials from Army Special Force Command sent out a media release echoing the comments on the Facebook page, but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Afghan defense ministry official, who was not identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told the Associated Press that the shooter was an Afghan soldier who had argued with the U.S. forces before opening fire. The official said the shooter was not a Taliban infiltrator, according to AP.<\/p>\n\n\n\t