General Officer Killed in Afghanistan Insider Attack
By Claudette Roulo
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2014  An American general was killed today in Kabul, Afghanistan, when an individual believed to be a member of the Afghan security forces fired into a group of coalition troops, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters.
Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby briefs reporters at the Pentagon, Aug. 5, 2014. DoD photo by Casper Manlangit
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
The coalition troops were on a routine site visit to the Marshal Fahim National Defense University, the Afghan army’s commissioned and noncommissioned officer academy, Kirby said during a news briefing today.
“There are a number of casualties as a result of the shooting, perhaps up to 15, to include some Americans,” he said. “Many were seriously wounded. Others received only minor injuries. The assailant was killed.”
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel extends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen general on behalf of the men and women of the department, Kirby said.
The family notification process is not yet complete, the admiral said, and no further information will be released until that process finishes.
“I'm sure you can understand that we want to respect the notification process and the family's privacy at this time,” he said.
Hagel received an update on the incident this morning from Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the International Security Assistance Force commander, Kirby said.
“And he pledged to General Dunford whatever support he and this department could provide with respect to the investigation,” he added.
“The incident will be jointly investigated by Afghan and ISAF authorities,” Kirby said. “That investigation is just now getting underway. We need to let it proceed before speculating about any specific circumstances.”
(Follow Claudette Roulo on Twitter: @roulododnews)
Photo of Harold J. Greene 
    was killed yesterday afternoon in an apparent  or 'green on blue' attack at the  on the outskirts of , . His death marks the first death of a United States general since the  and the first on foreign soil since the . Along with the death of Major General Greene, fifteen others were wounded in the attack including a German , eight US soldiers, a number of  soldiers, and three Afghan soldiers.

The attack started during a routine visit, when an individual, reportedly an  soldier, opened fire with a light assault rifle from inside a building, 100  (90 ) away from where Greene and others were standing. Soldiers fired back and killed the attacker. The Pentagon Press Secretary,   John Kirby, said, "There are a number of casualties as a result of the shooting, perhaps up to 15, to include some Americans". Kirby added, "Many were seriously wounded. Others received only minor injuries. The assailant was killed."

An  spokesperson, General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, said the attacker was a "terrorist dressed in an Afghan army uniform." The  acknowledged the attack and praised it, but did not claim responsibility for it.

Greene was serving as deputy commanding general of the  at the time of his death. He was previously Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management in the office of the . Greene joined the Army as an officer in 1980 after graduating from .

In a statement  General  gave his condolences, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene's family, and the families of our soldiers who were injured today in the tragic events that took place in Afghanistan. These soldiers were professionals, committed to the mission. It is their service and sacrifice that define us as an Army."


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