IED kills four Afghan civilians, wound another in Paktika

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

07.08.2010

Story by Sgt. Katryn McCalment 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – An improvised explosive device detonated when a taxi carrying a family drove over it, killing four Afghan civilians and wounding another, southwest of Margah village, Paktika province, July 8.

An Afghan-led force comprised of Afghan National Police and U.S. Special Forces had just completed a meeting with village elders in the area when the taxi struck the IED. The ANP and USSF responded to the scene, transported the wounded male to the Bermel combat outpost for medical care. The combined force brought the remains of the man, two women and an infant killed in the blast to the Bermel district center to turn over to their family.

“We mourn all civilian casualties,” said Lt. Col. Donald Franklin, the Special Operations Task Force – East commander. “This is another example of how little the insurgents care about the collateral damage of their actions. Our forces remain committed to doing everything possible to prevent non-combatant casualties.”

The assistance of the Afghan people in combating insurgent-placed IEDs is vital to saving lives according to a USSF team sergeant who operates in neighboring Zabul province.

“In the past four months, seven of the eight IEDs located and destroyed in Shin Kay were a direct result of tips from Afghan citizens,” said the team sergeant who was involved with the partnered response to destroy the IEDs. “This emerging trend of people rejecting insurgent activity in the area and calling in IED tips is win-win for everyone.”

• Date Taken: 07.08.2010
• Date Posted: 07.09.2010 11:11
• Story ID: 52602
• Location: PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF