Horrendous Weekend For Green on Blue Attacks In Afghanistan

A real bad weekend for the green on blue attacks in Afghanistan as Spanish troops were fired upon by Afghan soldiers and then today an ISAF troop was killed by an Aghan soldier in Helmand province.

Regarding the attack on the Spanish troops via The Long War Journal:

Members of Afghanistan's security forces have yet again attacked Coalition personnel. This time, Spanish soldiers with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Badghis province were the target of the green-on-blue, or insider attack, according to Pajhwok Afghan News:

The attacker and a 12-year-old boy were wounded in return fire from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops, who suffered no casualties in the latest "green-on-blue" assault.

A spokesman for the Badghis governor told Pajhwok Afghan News the insider attack took place at 10am in Maqur district, where the Spanish soldiers were inspecting reconstruction projects.

The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the incident, and said that two Afghan soldiers responsible for opening fire on the Spanish soldiers were detained. "There were no fatalities. ISAF service members returned fire, wounding one of the shooters. Both attackers are currently in ANA custody. ISAF and Afghan officials are assessing the incident," ISAF initially told Pajhwok Afghan News.

And in regards to the attack today that killed on ISAF troop, this also from The Long War Journal:

An Afghan National Army soldier killed a British trooper and wounded another in an insider, or "green-on-blue" attack, in Helmand province. Today's attack is the second of its kind in two days. There have been 42 reported insider attacks so far this year, resulting in the deaths of 60 Coalition soldiers and personnel.

Today's attack took place in the Nad Ali district in Helmand, Afghan provincial and military officials told TOLONews. The Afghan soldier "opened fire during a verbal clash," the news agency reported. The British troops returned fire and wounded the Afghan soldier.

The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the attack but would not release the nationality of the soldier who was killed.

Simply put, we cannot go a week or even a weekend with a new one of these green on blue attacks - it's getting worse before it's getting better.

Afghan soldiers attack Spanish troops in Badghis


Members of Afghanistan's security forces have yet again attacked Coalition personnel. This time, Spanish soldiers with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Badghis province were the target of the green-on-blue, or insider attack, according to Pajhwok Afghan News:

The attacker and a 12-year-old boy were wounded in return fire from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops, who suffered no casualties in the latest "green-on-blue" assault.

A spokesman for the Badghis governor told Pajhwok Afghan News the insider attack took place at 10am in Maqur district, where the Spanish soldiers were inspecting reconstruction projects.

The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the incident, and said that two Afghan soldiers responsible for opening fire on the Spanish soldiers were detained. "There were no fatalities. ISAF service members returned fire, wounding one of the shooters. Both attackers are currently in ANA custody. ISAF and Afghan officials are assessing the incident," ISAF initially told Pajhwok Afghan News.

However, an ISAF public affairs officer later told The Long War Journal on Nov. 11 that "One Spanish soldier received minor injuries yesterday in Muqar district of Badghis province when two Afghan National Army service members attacked ISAF forces."

"The ISAF forces returned fire wounding one of the attackers," the ISAF officier continued. "The second attacker was taken into Afghan custody. The wounded Spanish service member has returned to duty."

The Taliban have not released a statement claiming credit for the attack in Badghis.

There have been 41 green-on-blue attacks reported so far this year, resulting in the deaths of 59 ISAF military and civilian personnel (note: ISAF does not disclose data on all such attacks; ISAF has told The Long War Journal that the overall number of attacks is "classified"). The green-on-blue attacks now account for more than 16 percent of ISAF's casualties so far this year. Last year, such attacks accounted for 6 percent of ISAF's casualties. In 2010, green-on-blue attacks made up just 2 percent of ISAF's casualties. See LWJ report, Green-on-blue attacks in Afghanistan: the data, for more information.