BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – An Afghan woman was injured by insurgents during an attack on a joint Afghan National Army Commando and U.S. Special Operations Forces patrol in Nahr-E Saraj district, Helmand province at about 10 a.m. July 10.
The Afghan-led force came under a rocket propelled grenade and heavy machine gun fire while conducting a security patrol in and around Mirmandab and Heydarabad villages.
As a result of the insurgent attack, a local Afghan woman suffered from a shrapnel wound to her left leg and was treated and released by the USSOF medical personnel on the scene.
Two insurgents, who were detained in the operation, were also injured during the attack and received medical treatment from USSOF personnel.
“Village elders initially requested follow-on care for the woman, but changed their decision just prior to the MEDEVAC aircraft landing,” said a SOF team member involved in the attack. “Khodi Nazaar, a village elder, said he was very pleased with the medical treatment we provided and does not blame Coalition forces for the injury caused by the insurgents.”
Immediately following the attack, the ANA Commando commander contacted Nazaar to provide details of the events that took place. Nazaar stated he appreciated the presence of ANA Commandos and said their presence has helped save the lives of innocent civilians. He later led combined forces to a nearby weapons cache used by insurgents.
“This is yet another example of the enemy’s blatant disregard for innocent civilians,” said Col. Donald C. Bolduc, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan commander. “Our forces remain committed to doing everything possible to prevent non-combatant casualties and earning the Afghan people’s trust and support for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.”
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