By Mark Morgenstein and Masoud Popalzai, (CNN) — Several NATO and Afghan service members, including two Americans, were killed Monday when an assailant wearing an Afghan National Security Forces uniform opened fire on the group, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force officials said.
The attack happened late Monday morning in eastern Afghanistan, said Maj. Adam Wojack, a spokesman for the NATO-led force.
A spokesman for the Taliban, the deposed former rulers of Afghanistan, said an Afghan police officer opened fire on both U.S. and Afghan troops in the Jalrez district of Wardak province, about an hour west of Kabul.
The incident appeared to be the latest “green-on-blue” attack, or strike against coalition members by people dressed in police or army uniforms. Assailants conducting similar subterfuge killed dozens of coalition troops in 2012.
On Friday, a coalition contractor in eastern Afghanistan was killed when people wearing Afghan National Army uniforms turned their weapons against ISAF members, NATO said.
The last coalition soldier killed in a “green-on-blue” attack was a Briton, who was slain on January 7. And in the last similar fatal assault on U.S. troops, two Americans were killed October 25.
The coalition has been working to thwart such insider attacks.
Coalition soldiers are required to have a loaded weapon within reach at all times. In addition, the coalition ended training for hundreds of Afghan soldiers last year until the completion of background checks for insurgent links.
Most of the insider attacks are believed to be the result of Afghan soldiers suffering from combat or emotional stress, a Defense Department official told CNN in September after an especially deadly weekend for coalition troops.
Only about 15% of the “green-on-blue” attacks are believed to be the result of insurgent links, and about 10% come from infiltrators not affiliated with the military, the Defense Department official said.
Journalist Masoud Popalzai reported from Kabul, Afghanistan; CNN’s Barbara Starr, Matt Smith, Wesley Bruer and Lindsey Knight contributed to this report, and Mark Morgenstein wrote it from Atlanta.