Two Afghan soldiers opened fire on Spanish and Afghan troops
patrolling in the western Afghan province of Herat last night. The
insider (or 'green-on-blue') attack, in which Afghan security forces
strike at Coalition allies, is the last such incident recorded in 2012.
The two Afghan soldiers attacked the Spanish troops last night as they patrolled in the Karkh district in Herat,
according to Khaama Press. No Spanish or Afghan soldiers were hurt.
The International Security Assistance Force confirmed that the attack
took place, and said an investigation had been launched to determine
whether the attack was carried out by Afghan troops. An Afghan security
official told
Khaama Press that the two soldiers were members of the Afghan National Army.
A top Taliban spokesman claimed that the Afghan soldiers, who were from Jalalabad in Nangarhar province,
were operating under Taliban orders, the
Afghanistan Times
reported. The two Afghan soldiers escaped to the Taliban after the
attack. The Taliban, who routinely exaggerate casualties caused by their
operations, also claimed that four Spanish soldiers were killed in the
attack.
Yesterday's attack is the second recorded in Herat province in 2012.
On July 22, 2012, a member of the Afghan National Police killed three
civilian trainers who worked for ISAF. The attacker was killed.
In 2012, a total of 44 green-on-blue attacks reportedly took place,
resulting in the deaths of 61 ISAF military and civilian personnel.
(Note: ISAF does not disclose data on all such attacks;
ISAF has told The Long War Journal that the overall number of attacks is "classified".) In 2011, there were 15 such attacks reported, and in 2010 there were 5.
In 2012, the green-on-blue attacks accounted for more than 16 percent
of ISAF's casualties. In 2011, such attacks accounted for 6 percent of
ISAF's casualties. In 2010, green-on-blue attacks made up just 2 percent
of ISAF's casualties. See
LWJ report,
Green-on-blue attacks in Afghanistan: the data, for more information.
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