KABUL, Afghanistan - A man in an Afghan army uniform opened fire outside a NATO base in eastern Afghanistan, wounding five American soldiers, an Afghan police official said Wednesday.
The number of insider attacks against foreign forces in Afghani-stan has increased this year, undermining the trust between allies and efforts to prepare Afghan troops to take over their own security as international combat troops prepare to withdraw.
The U.S.-led coalition confirmed that a number of its service members were wounded by a man in an Afghan army uniform Tuesday in Wardak province's Sayed Abad district. It said Wednesday that the service members were being treated but did provide details.
The coalition maintains a large base there, but NATO did not say where in the district the attack took place or what happened to the assailant, but said an investigation was under way.
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Wardak provincial police chief Abdul Qayum Bakizoi said the wounded were five U.S. soldiers. He did not have further details.
A witness said Afghan civilians were talking to the soldiers outside their base when a man in an Afghan uniform opened fire with a machine gun.
"The Americans were standing on the other side of us while we were standing with a translator. Suddenly the Afghan soldier aimed his machine gun on them and started shooting," said Eman, who gave only one name.
He added that the wounded soldiers were evacuated by helicopter while the others "took us aside in fear of a possible gunbattle." Eman said the Afghan who opened fire escaped toward some trees and into a nearby village.
Wardak, located close to Kabul, is considered a Taliban hotbed and has been the scene of heavy fighting over the past year.
Tuesday's shooting was the latest likely case of a so-called "green-on-blue" attack in which Afghan soldiers or insurgents disguised in their uniforms turn their weapons on coalition troops.
So far this year 26 coalition troops have been killed in 18 such attacks. That compares with 11 fatal attacks and 20 deaths the previous year.
US Toll in Afghanistan
1,902
Deaths
16,687
Wounded
Latest identification
• Pfc. Cody O. Moosman, 24, of Preston, Idaho; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Source: Department of Defense.
