Insurgents use local children as human shields In Uruzgan

AFGHANISTAN

06.09.2012

Story by Chief Petty Officer Bill Mesta 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

URUZGAN, Afghanistan – An Afghan National Army Special Forces advised by coalition representatives, engaged in a seven-hour gun battle with Taliban fighters inside the village of Kend, in the Tagaw Valley, Shahid-E-Hasas district, June 9.

During the clash, the Taliban fighters used local children from the village as human shields.

“The insurgent fighters lined the village children alongside their fighting positions, and held children in front of them as they engaged the Afghan patrol with AK-47 assault rifles, heavy machine gun fire and recoilless rifle rounds,” said a coalition representative.

The Taliban also attempted to slow the patrol by placing radio-controlled improvised explosive devices in their path.

Given the details and nefarious tactics used during the battle, these insurgents were probably not from the Tagaw Valley, the coalition member said. They were likely displaced from Helmand province, during a recent clearing operation in Kajaki district conducted by the United States Marine Corps.

Ultimately the Afghan led patrol prevailed, forcing the Taliban fighters to flee, without harming any Afghan children.

The coalition representative believes the insurgents will not be able to sustain these tactics as outraged local residents will ultimately force the “outsiders” to leave the region.

• Date Taken: 06.09.2012
• Date Posted: 06.13.2012 08:22
• Story ID: 89886
• Location: AF