U.S. troops engaged in a shootout at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul early Monday morning, Pentagon officials said, with at least one Afghan security officer killed after a gunman opened fire on troops guarding the entrance to the facility.
Several other Afghans were wounded, officials said. No Americans were injured during the attack, which comes as the U.S. and its allies race to evacuate tens of thousands of civilian personnel and Afghan allies from the city, which is now controlled by the Taliban.
Pentagon officials offered little detail on the gunman or whether the person was associated with any terrorist group. It’s unclear whether the shooter is still alive.
The incident came about 24 hours after U.S. officials warned of potential threats from the Islamic State to the Kabul airport.
“No U.S. or coalition forces were hurt during a brief exchange of gunfire last night outside the north gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport. The incident appeared to begin when an unknown hostile actor fired upon Afghan security forces involved in monitoring access to the gate,” U.S. Central Command spokesperson Navy Capt. William Urban said in a statement. “The Afghans returned fire, and in keeping with their right of self-defense, so too did U.S. and coalition troops.”
“One member of the Afghan forces was killed by the hostile actor; several Afghans were wounded during the exchange,” he said. “The wounded are being treated at an airfield hospital and are reported to be in stable condition. Our condolences go out to the teammates and loved ones of the fallen Afghan soldier.”
The U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed a week ago amid a major Taliban military offensive. But some former members of the Afghan army apparently are still involved with security at the Kabul airport. German military officials said in a Twitter post on Monday that the individual killed and the several who were wounded are “members of the Afghan army.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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