US, Afghan forces come under attack in Nangarhar province

KABUL: U.S. military official said in a local news media that U.S. and Afghan soldiers came under direct attacks in eastern Afghanistan late Saturday the event identified as an insider attack.

U.S. Forces spokesperson in Afghanistan Colonel Sonny Leggett in a statement said, “The joint US and Afghan forces functioning in Nangarhar province were actively involved in direct firing on Feb 8.” While no party immediately claimed responsibility for the obvious attack — where Afghan security forces intercept international troops with whom they operate together.

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An Afghan official said that the assault had taken place in Shirzad District Military Headquarters and that foreign troops had cordoned off the zone. “Many helicopters landed here and moved from the HQ site, resulting in injuries. We do not even exactly know how many were killed or injured,” the official added.

The latest attack comes as US and Taliban officials pursue an arrangement that would require the United States to pull out thousands of military troops from Afghanistan after some more than 18 years of conflict in the country.