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| Two Setbacks for Coalition in Afghanistan | |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — Two NATO soldiers were killed Wednesday when men wearing uniforms of the Afghan security forces opened fire at an Afghan military base in the southern province of Helmand, the American-led international coalition said in a statement. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Two NATO soldiers were killed Wednesday when men wearing uniforms of the Afghan security forces opened fire at an Afghan military base in the southern province of Helmand, the American-led international coalition said in a statement. |
| In other news highlighting the province’s precarious security, the strategic district of Musa Qala fell to the Taliban on Wednesday after fighting that lasted all night, members of the provincial council said. Officials had warned that if Musa Qala fell, the Taliban could tighten their grip on northern Helmand. | In other news highlighting the province’s precarious security, the strategic district of Musa Qala fell to the Taliban on Wednesday after fighting that lasted all night, members of the provincial council said. Officials had warned that if Musa Qala fell, the Taliban could tighten their grip on northern Helmand. |
| The nationalities of the NATO soldiers were not immediately clear. The statement released by the American-led coalition said the service members died when two men wearing Afghan uniforms opened fire on their vehicle. The attackers were killed when coalition forces returned fire, the statement said. | The nationalities of the NATO soldiers were not immediately clear. The statement released by the American-led coalition said the service members died when two men wearing Afghan uniforms opened fire on their vehicle. The attackers were killed when coalition forces returned fire, the statement said. |
| However, Afghan officials in Helmand said that the two NATO soldiers were part of a group of Americans. The officials said that the soldiers had been fired on by Afghan troops who suspected them of being Taliban fighters in army uniforms. | However, Afghan officials in Helmand said that the two NATO soldiers were part of a group of Americans. The officials said that the soldiers had been fired on by Afghan troops who suspected them of being Taliban fighters in army uniforms. |
| “The guards on duty asked them for identification, but the American Special Forces seem to have ignored their warning,” said the head of the provincial council’s security committee, Bashir Ahmad Shakir. A representative for the international coalition in Afghanistan declined to comment. | “The guards on duty asked them for identification, but the American Special Forces seem to have ignored their warning,” said the head of the provincial council’s security committee, Bashir Ahmad Shakir. A representative for the international coalition in Afghanistan declined to comment. |
| The attack is the second time this year that members of the coalition forces have been killed by their Afghan allies or by gunmen wearing their uniforms. The trend of insider attacks has declined in recent years as the international forces in Afghanistan, which are down to about 13,000, have drastically limited their movement in the country since shifting to a mission focused on advising and training. | The attack is the second time this year that members of the coalition forces have been killed by their Afghan allies or by gunmen wearing their uniforms. The trend of insider attacks has declined in recent years as the international forces in Afghanistan, which are down to about 13,000, have drastically limited their movement in the country since shifting to a mission focused on advising and training. |
| The coalition forces remain heavily involved in the planning of operations and in providing air support for Afghan forces. | The coalition forces remain heavily involved in the planning of operations and in providing air support for Afghan forces. |
| A senior official in the Afghan Army’s 215 Maiwand Corps, which is responsible for southern Afghanistan, said coalition officials were present on Wednesday as plans were being drawn up for an operation to take back Musa Qala district. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media, said that “foreign forces” would be providing air support. Musa Qala’s governor, Hajji Mohammad Sharif, said that Taliban fighters swarmed the district compound on Tuesday night, seizing government buildings, including a police station. | A senior official in the Afghan Army’s 215 Maiwand Corps, which is responsible for southern Afghanistan, said coalition officials were present on Wednesday as plans were being drawn up for an operation to take back Musa Qala district. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media, said that “foreign forces” would be providing air support. Musa Qala’s governor, Hajji Mohammad Sharif, said that Taliban fighters swarmed the district compound on Tuesday night, seizing government buildings, including a police station. |