CENTCOM investigates video of truck shooting in Afghanistan

U.S. Central Command is investigating a video that appears to show a U.S. service member in Afghanistan shooting at a civilian truck and its driver.

The video was posted anonymously to YouTube and contains a montage of combat footage, which includes a service member holding a shotgun in an armored truck driving past a Afghan “jingle truck” and shooting at the driver.

CENTCOM said the video was troubling.

“The amateur video posted on a public website gives us serious concern. The video in question is not official, not authorized and does not represent the professionalism of the service members of U.S. Central Command,” CENTCOM said in a statement provided to Military Times.

“We are conducting an investigation into this video, and will take appropriate actions as a result of this investigation,” according to the statement.

The video alone does not suggest any misconduct by U.S. troops because it is impossible to know whether the truck posed a threat to the U.S. troops and the shooting may have fallen within the authorized rules of engagement.