A two-star U.S. general had been killed in an attack led by “an individual believed to be an Afghan soldier,” who “fired into a group of coalition troops at Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul,” according to a statement from Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary. There are believed to be up to 15 casualties as a result of the attack. The attacker was killed by other Afghan soldiers, and his identity is, as of yet, unknown.
Although the Pentagon declined to identify the general, reports say that it is believed to be Major General Harold J. Greene. He is the highest-ranking member of the U.S. military to die during a war overseas since the Vietnam War.
Secretary of State Chuck Hagel also extended “his heartfelt condolences, his thoughts, and his prayers to all those affected by the tragedy, most especially the family of our fallen soldier,” quoted Admiral Kirby.
The Afghan attack is believed to be an “insider attack,” which refers to an attack made by Afghan soldiers onto coalition forces unexpectedly. Insider attacks have decreased since 2012, as a result of security measures that have been taken. One such measure included using “guardian angels,” which required soldiers to move in pairs or groups so that they could warn each other of potential insider attacks, according to USA Today.
Despite the vetting process and the decline of insider attacks over the years, they haven’t completely been eliminated.
Admiral Kirby explained, “Afghanistan is still a war zone. It’s impossible to completely eliminate that threat, but you can work hard to mitigate it and minimize it, and ISAF has done that.”
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is a military coalition conducting operations to help provide security and stability in Afghan military forces, and also to help with conditions for reconstruction of the country.
