BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Six insurgents and one Afghan child were killed, and another Afghan male was injured, June 8, as a result of an insurgent attack on Afghan National Army and U.S. Special Forces in Paktika province.
The Afghan-led force was conducting a presence patrol to discuss village stability operations expansion with key leaders near Nawi Kalay in Paktika province when they came under small-arms fire from a group of insurgents.
The insurgents attempted to flee the area on motorcycles while firing at the combined force. They were engaged and killed. During the enemy engagement, one of the insurgents wearing a suicide vest ran toward one of the partnered force teams, detonated the vest, and killed himself. At the same time, another male believed to be an insurgent drove toward this same team in a large dump truck.
The team under assault used several procedures to stop the advance of the dump truck, including verbal warnings, signal flares and numerous warning shots, but the truck did not stop. The team believed the truck to be an imminent threat, and shot at the vehicle until it was disabled and no longer presented a threat to their position.
The ANA and USSF conducted a search of the surrounding area after the attack and found a mortar tube, a dozen mortars, a motorcycle rigged with explosives, and other bomb making materials.
During the search of the truck, the partnered force found a 10-year-old boy who had apparently died of a gunshot wound lying in the cab of the truck and an injured 40-year-old Afghan male suffering from shrapnel wounds. Coalition medics treated the wounded Afghan male’s minor injuries.
Immediately following the attack, ANA and USSF contacted local village elders to provide details of the events that took place.
“We mourn the tragic death of the child and are examining every detail of the event to see how such a tragedy can be prevented,” said Col. Donald Bolduc, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan commander. “Our forces remain committed to doing everything possible to prevent non-combatant casualties, and we need Afghans to help us communicate clearly to drivers the urgency of following instructions when approaching police check points or ANA and coalition forces conducting operations.”
The incident is currently under investigation by Afghan and coalition authorities.
| Date Taken: |
06.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
06.22.2010 13:35 |
| Story ID: |
51788 |
| Location: |
PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
516 |
| Downloads: |
151 |
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