iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — A U.S. service member was killed in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday due to wounds sustained during a combat operation, according to a release from U.S. Forces Afghanistan.
The service member, who has not yet been identified, marks the fourth American combat death in Afghanistan this year and the second in the last week.
The name of the individual is withheld by the U.S. military for 24 hours until the service member’s next of kin are notified of their passing.
On Saturday, Cpl. Joseph Maciel of South Gate, California was killed during an insider attack in Tarin Kowt District in southern Afghanistan. Several service members were also wounded in that attack, but are in stable condition, the military said.
The term “insider attack” refers to attacks carried out against U.S. military personnel by the Afghan troops they are training or advising.
The number of insider attacks peaked at 61 in 2012, but the attacks have become rare after the U.S. military instituted security safeguards to protect American troops.
There are about 14,000 U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, most of them serving as trainers and advisers with the Afghan military in their fight against the Taliban and ISIS.
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Army Specialist Gabriel Conde, 22, was killed by Taliban gunfire in a province east of the Afghan capital of Kabul on April 30.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Mihail Golin, 34, was killed in a firefight with ISIS fighters in eastern Afghanistan on January 1.
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