(CNN/AP) - Two US service members were killed and six others wounded after an attack on a joint US-Afghan operation in the Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the US military said in a statement.
The Defense Department identified the two soldiers who died from wounds sustained during combat operations as Sgt. 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas, and Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Both men were part of the 7th Special Forces Group based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
U.S. officials say an Afghan dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire late Saturday in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. Afghan officials said one Afghan soldier was also killed, and the gunman died in the assault.
There have been numerous attacks by Afghan national army soldiers on their allied partners over 18 years of America's protracted war in Afghanistan.
Six U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan this year.
Last year, 22 U.S. service personnel died from “hostile” action.
Sgt. 1st Class Antonio R. Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died February 8, from wounds sustained during combat operations in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. #7thspecialforcesgroup pic.twitter.com/X3sgeBdhdW
— 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (@7thForces) February 9, 2020
Sgt. 1st Class Javier J. Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas, died February 8, from wounds sustained during combat operations in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. #7thspecialforcesgroup pic.twitter.com/Gdqq7Fl3L2
— 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (@7thForces) February 9, 2020
