Afghan civilian injured, weapons cache discovered after insurgent attack in Helmand

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

07.11.2010

Courtesy Story

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army commandos from the 7th Commando Kandak, assisted by U. S. Special Operations Forces, discovered a weapons cache in Helmand province July 11.

The Afghan-led force began their presence patrol to establish security and locate known insurgents operating in and around Mirmandab and Heydarabad villages July 10, when they came under initial rocket propelled grenade attacks and heavy machine gun fire from a group of insurgents. As a result of the insurgent attack, an Afghan woman suffered a shrapnel wound to her leg and was treated and released by U.S. Special Operations Forces medics. Two insurgents were wounded and treated by the USSOF medics and held for questioning.

As the combined force continued their patrols, the insurgents re-engaged with U.S. and Afghan forces multiple times using small-arms, machine gun, and rocket propelled grenades from fortified positions.

As U.S. and Afghan forces searched a series of buildings, they found a weapons cache consisting of four IEDs daisy-chained to a 25-pound jug of homemade explosives. The team also found three Chinese rocket propelled grenades and a launcher, three 82 mm mortars, hand-held radios, and batteries.

Following the weapons discovery, Afghan and coalition force officials met with village elders who later authorized the combined force to destroy the building housing the insurgent’s weapons cache to help prevent innocent civilians from being injured or killed.

“These attacks demonstrate the blatant disregard by insurgent elements for the safety of the Afghan people,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael O’Connor, a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan spokesperson. “Despite insurgent attempts to disrupt the security efforts of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, we will continue to work together with our Afghan partners to provide protection for Afghan citizens. Our forces remain resolved as ever to protect the people of Helmand.”

• Date Taken: 07.11.2010
• Date Posted: 07.11.2010 13:49
• Story ID: 52678
• Location: HELMAND PROVINCE, AF