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KABUL – A joint assessment team composed of representatives from the ministries of interior and defense, and International Security Assistance Force officials, completed an assessment of possible civilian casualties in an operation in the Musa Qal’ah district of Helmand province Wednesday. The team has determined the civilian casualties were inadvertently caused by ISAF strikes on the target.
“It is regrettable that insurgents continue to place civilians in harm’s way,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Timothy M. Zadalis, ISAF Joint Command director of plans and projects and team lead. “We regret the loss of life and injuries to our civilian partners. Our first objective is to protect the people of Afghanistan, and in this case we failed."
During a dismounted patrol, partnered forces from the Afghan National Police and coalition came under heavy small-arms and machine gun fire. The patrol was pinned down and unable to withdraw. The insurgent firing position was positively identified and additional fire support was requested.
The insurgents were suppressed and following the engagement, overhead aircraft observed two or three wounded individuals being removed by insurgents to a nearby compound. An immediate site assessment by the partnered force revealed civilians were in the compound at the time of the insurgent attack which was confirmed by the joint assessment team.
| Date Taken: | 09.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.06.2010 04:02 |
| Story ID: | 55774 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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