war in afghanistan

Afghan Soldier Kills 2-Star U.S. General in Insider Attack

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An Afghan National Army soldier gestures outside the gates of a British-run military academy, where an Afghan soldier opened fire on NATO troops inside the premises, on the outskirts of Kabul on August 5, 2014. An Afghan soldier opened fire on NATO troops at a British-run military academy in Kabul on August 5, officials said, adding that casualty details were unconfirmed and the cause of the shooting was unclear.
An Afghan National Army soldier gestures outside the gates of a British-run military academy, where an Afghan soldier opened fire on NATO troops inside the premises, on the outskirts of Kabul on August 5, 2014. Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images

A United States Army major general was killed and at least 14 others, including multiple American soldiers and a German general, were injured in a shooting today at the Marshall Fahim National Defense University in Kabul. According to the New York Times, “The major general appeared to be the highest-ranking member of the American military to die in hostilities overseas since the Vietnam War.”

NBC reports that the suspected gunman, an Afghan soldier, “was a bodyguard of the Paktia provincial governor, and his fellow soldiers killed him during the ambush.” The Afghan Ministry of Defence said in a statement, “Today at 12 p.m., a terrorist in army uniform opened fire on international partners and other Afghan officers, wounding several,” although no names have been released and details remain vague. German officials called the shooting “presumably an internal attack.”

Update: The deceased has been identified as Maj. Gen. Harold Greene.

Sources

NYT Reuters NBC News

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2-Star U.S. General Killed in Afghanistan