Another U.S. service member has been killed in Afghanistan.
The attack, deemed an “apparent insider attack,” took place in eastern Afghanistan where one U.S. service member was killed, and another wounded, according to a statement by the NATO-led Resolute Support mission on Monday morning.
One U.S. service member was killed and another wounded during an apparent insider attack in eastern Afghanistan, Sept. 3. pic.twitter.com/CjtgaqrRsh
— Resolute Support (@ResoluteSupport) September 3, 2018
The name of the slain service member will be released in 24 hours following next-of-kin notification, per usual policy. The service member’s death is the sixth to take place in Afghanistan this year.
Resolute Support and U.S. Forces – Afghanistan Commanding General Scott Miller said in the statement: “The sacrifice of our service member, who volunteered for a mission to Afghanistan to protect his country, is a tragic loss for all who knew and all who will now never know him.”
“Our duty now is to honor him, care for his family and continue our mission,” Miller added.
BREAKING: A U.S. service member was killed and another wounded on Monday during an apparent insider attack in eastern Afghanistan, defense officials announced, the second insider attack in as many months https://t.co/jmhqgT8I1a
— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) September 3, 2018
The wounded service member is listed in stable condition.
Eastern Afghanistan remains under Islamic State control, and has been responsible for several other service member’s deaths this year.
The first U.S. service member died in January. During a gunfight in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, Sgt. First Class Mihail Golin was killed and four other soldiers wounded.
In April, an attack in eastern Afghanistan killed one U.S. service member, and multiple Afghan soldiers were also killed during the combat operation. The soldier was later identified as Spc. Gabriel Conde, 22, from Loveland, Colorado.
An insider attack in early July killed one U.S. service member in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, while wounding two others. Pfc. Hansen B. Kirkpatrick, 19, of Wasilla, Alaska received fatal wounds from indirect fire.
Less than a week later, another U.S. service member was slain in a combat operation in Kabul, located in eastern Afghanistan. The soldier was identified as Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Andrew Celiz, 32, from Summerville, South Carolina, who was an Army Ranger.
The fifth U.S. service member suffered fatal wounds from a detonated improvised explosive device in early August. Staff Sgt. Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, from Waikoloa, Hawaii, was on patrol in the Helmand province when the explosion occurred, sparking an investigation into his death.
Although U.S. and Afghanistan forces reclaimed the ISIS-proclaimed capital of Gurgoray in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, the ISIS presence remains heavy and poses a significant threat to U.S. service members.
