NATO: Raid kills insurgent behind US troop death

Kabul, Feb 18 (AP) The US-led international coalition in Afghanistan says a raid last week in the country's east has killed an insurgent who was responsible for a 2012 insider attack that claimed the life of an American soldier. NATO today identified the insurgent as Mahmood. The coalition says that he and an accomplice, identified only as Rashid, died in last Wednesday's operation in eastern Kunar province's Ghaziabad district. No other details were provided. NATO says Mahmood was responsible for killing a US soldier on May 11 in Kunar. Killings by uniformed Afghans of foreign soldiers and civilians rose dramatically last year. According to NATO, so-called insider attacks killed 61 coalition personnel in 45 incidents last year, compared to 35 killed in 21 attacks a year earlier. (AP) KND 02181556 NNNN