Wire: Rocket Attack Kills 2 US Troops in Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that a rocket attack on Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan early Sunday killed two U.S. troops and wounded six other Americans, including two civilians.

Two U.S. troops died and six Americans were wounded, including four military personnel and two civilians, said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker, a U.S. military spokeswoman.

The wounded were transported to a U.S. medical facility on Bagram Air Field for immediate medical treatment, where they are receiving expert medical care, officials said.

The top government official in Bagram, Kabir Ahmad, said several rockets were fired at the base early Sunday. A spokesman with NATO's International Security Assistance Force said that three rounds landed inside Bagram and one landed outside. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't the office's top spokesman.

It is unknown at the time if any Afghan civilians living near the air field were harmed as a result of this attack.

The names of the service members are being withheld pending notification of the next-of-kin.

The incident is under investigation.

(Report from newswire and U.S. Forces - Afghanistan sources.)

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