Two U.S. service members and 26 Afghan civilians were killed Thursday during a joint raid by U.S. and Afghan forces targeting senior Taliban commanders — rare combat deaths for Western forces who handed over the task of securing Afghanistan to local troops some two years ago.
(FOX)- The American service members “came under fire” alongside Afghan troops while attempting to “clear a Taliban position” in the Kunduz province, according to the statement. An Afghan police official told The Associated Press the assault also killed 26 civilians, and a NATO statement said two other Americans were injured.
“Today’s loss is heartbreaking and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our service members who lost their lives today,” Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, said in a statement.
A U.S. defense official told Fox News that the incident occurred last night local time, but declined to give any more details.
The target of the raid appeared to be two senior Taliban commanders killed in the fighting among 65 insurgents, Kunduz police chief Gen. Qasim Jangalbagh said. He said Afghan special forces carried out the raid and that he did not have any information about NATO involvement in the assault.
The news of the American casualties comes days after the Pentagon said it targeted top Al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan on Oct. 23, Faruq al Qatani and Bilal al Utabi.