Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan - Breaking news out of Camp Shorabak, formerly known as Camp Bastion that three U.S. soldiers were shot and wounded inside the southern Helmand province base by an Afghan special forces soldier this morning. The Afghan soldier was shot dead by coalition forces during the incident. Afghan military spokesperson Colonel Rasoul Zazai said that the Afghan soldier who was a gate guard at the time had made a ‘mistake’ in shooting coalition troops and had not fired deliberately at U.S. forces and as a result “The guard lost his life in exchange of fire.” U.S. military spokesperson, Navy Captain Bill Salvin confirmed that U.S. troops had engaged the Afghan gate guard and killed the soldier “to end the attack.”
So-called “green-on-blue” insider attacks by Afghan soldiers on international service members were a major problem several years ago, but now occur less frequently after security measures were improved and the number of foreign troops in the country fell sharply. This attack shows some parallels to what occurred at Prince Faisal Airbase in Jordan, where Green Berets from 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who were assigned to the CIA’s Timber Sycamore covert operation to train and arm so-called moderate Syrian rebels, were gunned down at the base’s front gate by a Jordanian soldier, which Jordanian authorities described as a, “chain of unfortunate events.”
Little is known at this time what the motivation of the attack was or the U.S. military unit involved. U.S. sources within the Pentagon said in January that up to 300 Marines were scheduled to deploy to the Helmand province camp to “assist Afghan forces battling the Islamist insurgents in intelligence and logistics matters.” Camp Shorabak located in the northwest part of the city of Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province was formerly known as Camp Bastion, or “Camp Leatherneck” during the height of Operation Enduring Freedom. The camp was handed back to the Afghan National Army and re-designated ‘Camp Shorabak’ by the Afghan Ministry of Defense in late 2014. SOFREP will continue to track this story and update as information comes in.
3 US soldiers wounded when shot by Afghan soldier on a base in Helmand Province. US soldiers receiving medical care. Updates as appropriate.
— Resolute Support (@ResoluteSupport) March 19, 2017
Read full story from Reuters here.
Feature Image courtesy of: The Telegraph UK
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My deepest sympathy for that incredible loss. There is none worse in this world. My prayers are with you. And, you are all too correct in your assessment of the situation.
I think the official was trying to claim the guard mistook the three US Army Soldiers for little T's....Even if that is what they are claiming, either the soldiers were dressed indigineously or the official is full of shit.
I think the government official was insinuating the guard mistook US forces for the little T's
Any updates on the 3 soldiers condition from their wounds?
My sincerest condolences for your loss, Cindy. I agree with your comments and hope that one day you will find the answers you seek. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God provide you some peace and comfort in the loss of your beloved son. Rest in peace SFC Mathew Lewellen. Your service to our country will be forever in our hearts and memory.