Combined Joint Task Force - 82
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Elements of the 1st Brigade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps, along with coalition forces, repelled a direct attack on Firebase Anaconda, Oruzgan province, today.
Insurgents attacked the base from multiple directions with 72 mm rockets, small-arms and heavy machine gun fire. Coalition close air support conducted precision air strikes successfully destroying the enemy fighters.
This was the fourth attack on Firebase Anaconda this month. An estimated 74 insurgents were killed in the previous attacks on the firebase.
The recent probing attacks have reinforced credible intelligence gathered by coalition forces of a planned, large-scale attack on Firebase Anaconda.
"After several failed attempts earlier in the month to attack Firebase Anaconda, with more than 70 dead insurgents to show for their efforts, we thought the Taliban had learned their lesson," said Army Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokeswoman. "This engagement was yet another blow to the al-Qaida and Taliban extremist fighters attempting to operate in Afghanistan."
Two coalition forces were slightly wounded in the engagement however, neither required medical evacuation and have returned to duty.
There were no reports of non-combatants being injured, or killed, in the attack.