3rd Group Soldier Dies from Wounds Sustained in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense announced late Sunday a Fort Bragg soldier died while fighting in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department identified the soldier as 39-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Riley G. Stephens, 39, of Tolar, Texas. He died Friday in Wardak, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire.

Stephens was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg.

The insider attack by Afghan forces has killed a U.S. service member and a contractor, officials said Sunday according to an NBC news report – bringing the total number of U.S. troops killed inside Afghanistan to 2,000 according to some measures.

Attacks by Afghan soldiers or police — or insurgents disguised in their uniforms — have killed 52 American and other NATO troops so far this year.