Two US Special Ops airmen killed in Afghanistan last week

The “NATO servicemen” killed in southern Afghanistan last Wednesday were identified by the Pentagon Monday as two special tactics airmen, Capt. Matthew D. Roland, 27, and Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley, 31.Two gunmen in Afghan National Defense Forces uniform shot up their vehicle at a checkpoint in Camp Antonik, now a forward operating base. NATO troops returned the fire and killed the shooters. Air Force Col. Pat Ryder, a CentCom spokesman, said it was still unclear whether this was an insider attack by ANSF members or by Taliban infiltrators. Ryder also said, "There has been an increase in US air strikes" in Helmand province, where the Taliban earlier this week reportedly overran ANSF positions in the Musa Qalah district northeast of Camp Antonik. The two US officers were experts in close air support.