By Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan Public Affairs
BADGHIS, Afghanistan – For the second time in as many days, insurgents in Badghis province are posing as innocent civilian casualties in order to obtain medical treatment for injuries suffered during an armed engagement with Afghan and U.S. forces in western Afghanistan.
As a multi-day partnered mission, comprised of Afghan National Army soldiers from the 207th Corps and a U.S. Marine Special Operations Team, came to end in Bala Murghab District, the combined force found themselves under attack by numerous insurgents.
Similarly to the previous day’s operations, the team returned fire on the insurgent positions resulting in insurgents being injured. And just as they had done the day prior, the combined force provided medical treatment to an adult male who approached them claiming to be an innocent civilian casualty. In all, more than a dozen insurgents were injured.
Moving in and around an area where the villagers claim to have not seen coalition forces for several years, a Marine Special Operations Team leader said the troops were able to disrupt insurgent fighters along with their weapons and financing network. They were also able to gain a foothold in what insurgents felt was a safe haven.
Also discovered during the after action assessment was physical information that led to the verification that the insurgents who posed as civilian casualties had indeed been involved in the fighting.
“The enemy wounded had nowhere else to seek treatment due to a tight cordon and had no choice but to seek medical aid with the combined force,” the MSOT leader said.
As insurgents run out of safe havens throughout the country, Afghan and U.S. forces operating in the province expect insurgents to continue pretending to be someone they’re not.
“All of the imposters matched detailed descriptions given from the team leader on site during the attacks,” said Marine Sgt. Brian Kester, a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan spokesperson. “The team verified with local elders who agreed the injured men in question were not civilians from the local village. They also confirmed with provincial and district governors, and ANA leaders, that the men were indeed insurgents.”
The injured insurgents who came forward for treatment by the ANA soldiers and MSOT medical personnel were transferred to a medical facility in the Murghab River Valley for follow-on care and additional questioning.