The U.S. Defense Department confirmed that an American general was killed in an attack at a military base in the Afghan capital Kabul.

UPDATE: Pentagon officials have identified the U.S. general as Major General Harold J. Greene, U.S. Army, 55. He was deputy commanding general of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan when he was killed.

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The incident occurred at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University during a "routine visit" by coalition forces, according to the Pentagon.

Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said the assailant was wearing an Afghan soldier's uniform and that he was shot dead after he opened fire. 

Kirby also mentioned that "up to 15 other people" were injured in the shooting, eight of them Americans. U.S. military sources sadi five of the Americans are in serious condition.

A German brigadier general was reported to be among the wounded. The wounded also included some British soliders.

The Pentagon has not released the names of other Americans injured in the shooting.

Greene's death makes him the highest-ranking American officer to be killed in Afghanistan since the U.S. launched its war on terror following the September 11 attacks.

A U.S. government spokesman, Josh Earnest, said President Barack Obama has been informed of the shooting in Kabul.

He said an investigation was under way into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Tagsafghan war, afghan attack, us afghan war, terror war, us military in afghanistan, us soldiers in afghanistan