Posted on 08/07/2002 3:23:28 AM PDT by blam
US Says Kills Four Fighting Off Afghanistan Ambush
Wed Aug 7, 5:46 AM ET
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (Reuters) - U.S. special forces soldiers killed four attackers on Tuesday after being ambushed for a second day in a row in eastern Afghanistan ( news - web sites), U.S. military officials said Wednesday.
About 30 American special operations soldiers were conducting a vehicle-mounted reconnaissance patrol near Asadabad, in eastern Konar province, when five men opened fire at them from their own vehicle, Roger King, a spokesman at Bagram Air Base, just north of Kabul, said on Wednesday.
"The patrol returned fire, killing four, and wounding the fifth," he said.
On Monday, an American patrol was ambushed in the same area outside of Asadabad. In that incident, U.S. forces say they killed two attackers.
King denied a report on the incident that appeared on the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) news agency on Wednesday saying that four Afghan civilians were killed when U.S. troops opened fire on their vehicle after the driver apparently failed to stop when signaled.
AIP quoted unnamed Afghan government sources as saying that those killed were relatives of a prominent local commander, identified as Matiullah.
King said no U.S. personnel were hurt in the ambush. He said the wounded attacker was taken to a local hospital.
King said U.S. soldiers searched the attackers' vehicle and found a "large amount" of "regional," not Afghan money.
"We view two days of contact as a success," King said. "The [coalition] forces are out there seeking contact, and they're finding contact."
King said U.S. forces have been operating in Konar province for over a month and had noted an increase in attacks against U.S.-led coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan in recent weeks.
"I think their intention is to go in, engage coalition forces, and kill them," King said. "They're dedicated to their cause. If part of their cause is seeking death, they seem to be pretty well dedicated to that too."
Two Afghan soldiers were killed and five Americans wounded on July 27 when they were ambushed in a mud-walled compound in eastern Paktia province.
AIP said hundreds of U.S. troops were stationed in Kunar province, which borders Pakistan, helping Afghan authorities in a campaign to recover weapons from civilians.
Hundreds of Afghan civilians have been reported killed by U.S. fire since Washington launched a military campaign against Afghanistan's former Taliban government and Osama bin Laden ( news - web sites)'s al Qaeda network, which is blamed for the September 11 attacks on the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Ah, the obligatory "America is killing innocent civilians" propaganda statement. Will the press EVER cease with this mess?
Ruck
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