Last year, a former Afghan soldier who was successfully recruited by the Taliban to become an insurgent against allied forces killed an American soldier during an attack in eastern Afghanistan. The insurgent has now been reported dead after a U.S.-led international coalition force led a raid against insurgents last week.
Yesterday, NATO identified the slain man merely as "Mahmood" and noted that both he and a fellow terrorist, referred to only as "Rashid," died in the operation in the Ghaziabad district of Kunar. Mahmood was the man responsible for the attack last May 11 that killed U.S. Army 1st Lt. Alejo Thompson, who died during the insider attack on his base. That attack also wounded two other U.S. soldiers.
"Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the death of the two Taliban insider attack facilitators, Mahmood and Rashid, during a security operation in Ghaziabad district, Kunar province, Wednesday," the coalition said in a statement. "Mahmood was responsible for the death of one American service member during the May 11, 2012, insider attack in Kunar province."
The statement added, "Rashid was Mahmood's associate and a former Afghan National Army soldier who facilitated and assisted with insider attack planning and execution." Instances of insider attacks have become fewer in recent days, as NATO forces took very specific actions to guard against them, including a practice of having armed forces watch over troops as they sleep. Such guards are referred to as "guardian angels." Clearly Mahmood would have benefited from such a guardian as well.
Yesterday, NATO identified the slain man merely as "Mahmood" and noted that both he and a fellow terrorist, referred to only as "Rashid," died in the operation in the Ghaziabad district of Kunar. Mahmood was the man responsible for the attack last May 11 that killed U.S. Army 1st Lt. Alejo Thompson, who died during the insider attack on his base. That attack also wounded two other U.S. soldiers.
"Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the death of the two Taliban insider attack facilitators, Mahmood and Rashid, during a security operation in Ghaziabad district, Kunar province, Wednesday," the coalition said in a statement. "Mahmood was responsible for the death of one American service member during the May 11, 2012, insider attack in Kunar province."
The statement added, "Rashid was Mahmood's associate and a former Afghan National Army soldier who facilitated and assisted with insider attack planning and execution." Instances of insider attacks have become fewer in recent days, as NATO forces took very specific actions to guard against them, including a practice of having armed forces watch over troops as they sleep. Such guards are referred to as "guardian angels." Clearly Mahmood would have benefited from such a guardian as well.