NATO soldier killed in Taliban-claimed attack in Afghanistan's Herat
A NATO soldier has been killed and two others wounded in the western Afghan province of Herat, in an attack claimed by the Taliban militant group.
Local officials said on Monday that the attack took place in Shindand district to the south of Herat city, an area with heavy Taliban presence.
The Taliban group claimed responsibility for the attack in an emailed statement, claiming it killed or wounded "a large number of American soldiers."
NATO’s Resolute Support Mission (RSM) did not immediately release the nationalities of the three soldiers, but claimed in a statement that “initial reports indicate the attack was committed by a member of the Afghan security forces."
The attack comes a few days after a gunman opened fire on a gathering of security chiefs, including General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in the southern city of Kandahar. Miller was not hurt in the shooting that killed three people, including a powerful Afghan police chief.
Brigadier General Jeffrey Smiley was among 13 wounded in the Taliban-claimed shooting. Smiley suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds and was "in Germany receiving further treatment," a statement from Resolute Support said.
Overall, 3,555 US-led troops, including 2,414 American soldiers, have been killed since the US-led war on Afghanistan began in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks, according to iCasualties website.
The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The war removed the militant group from power but some 17 years on the Taliban are still active in two-thirds of the country and involved in widespread militancy, killing thousands of civilians as well as Afghan and US forces despite the presence of foreign troops.
Last year, the United States added thousands of additional troops to its forces in Afghanistan. Washington claims the American troops are deployed in Afghanistan to train Afghan forces and conduct counter-terrorist missions against militant groups.
Russia decides 'at highest level' to remove Taliban from list of terrorists
Dozen killed in Daesh attack on Hazaras welcoming Karbala pilgrims
UN warns Daesh Afghanistan branch growing in strength
What led to dilly-dallying in ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant
Palestinians flee Gaza City suburb after Israel issues forced evacuation order
Iran says will discuss key nuclear, regional issues with France, Germany, UK
VIDEO | Israeli archaeologist killed in Southern Lebanon
VIDEO | Israeli airstrike on Lebanon's army base kills soldier, injures 18 others
Sirens sound across Tel Aviv as Hezbollah fires barrage of missiles at Israeli target
Israeli ‘archeologist’ who toured south Lebanon in military uniform to falsify history
The importance of Venezuela for Iran
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
