Middle East

2 U.S. Service Members Killed In Afghanistan, 6 Wounded

U.S. and Afghan soldiers were in a joint exercise when a person dressed in an Afghan uniform fired on the soldiers.

2 U.S. Service Members Killed In Afghanistan, 6 Wounded
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Two U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan were killed and six others left wounded in an attack Saturday.

Military officials said U.S. and Afghan soldiers were in a joint exercise in Nangarhar province when a person dressed in an Afghan uniform fired on the soldiers with a machine gun.

The gunfire killed Sgt. 1st Class Javier Gutierrez and Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rodriguez. The U.S. military said the wounded are recovering.

"We are still collecting information and the cause or motive behind the attack is unknown at this time," Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesperson for American forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. "The incident is under investigation."

The Afghan Ministry of Defense said it's also investigating the attack, which killed one of its soldiers as well. The ministry added this didn't have a "negative effect" on the relationship between Afghan and American forces.