US Army general shot in Afghanistan Taliban attack
- Army Brigadier General Jeffrey Smiley recovering from at least one gunshot wound
- Taliban assassinated two top provincial officials during attack
The Pentagon has confirmed that a US Army general was shot in a Taliban attack that killed two Afghan leaders inside the Kandahar governor’s compound last week.
The Washington Post reported earlier Sunday that Army Brigadier General Jeffrey Smiley was recovering after suffering at least one gunshot wound.
The attack caught the US military by surprise. General officers are rarely in situations where they face attack, and even more rarely wounded.
Among those present during the attack was Army General Austin “Scott” Miller, the top US officer in Afghanistan.
Army Colonel David Butler, the top military spokesman in Afghanistan, said that the US officials present were caught in the crossfire after a gunman started shooting.
The Taliban claimed the attack and said Miller was among the main targets.