Coalition Forces Kill One Child, Wound Four Children In Zabul Province, Afghanistan

10/23/2007 -- BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – While conducting an operation to disrupt extremist activities in Zabul Province today, Coalition forces were attacked by militants resulting in the death of several militants and one child and the wounding of four children.

Acting on credible intelligence, Coalition forces performed a search of a nomadic camp in the Jeldak District where individuals suspected of having ties to militant forces were indicated to be hiding.

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“Coalition forces went to the Jeldak District to capture a senior Taliban commander in Zabul Province,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesman. “The Taliban are known to use nomadic camps as staging bases for attacks, to include improvised explosive devices and ambushes against the peaceful people of Afghanistan and Coalition forces.”

While performing a search of the area, Coalition forces came under small-arms fire from militants in the area. Coalition forces returned fire, killing five militants.

“One of the militants attacked Coalition forces from a tent in the camp. Coalition forces returned fire, killing the attacker,” Belcher said. “After searching the tent where the militant fired at Coalition forces, the body of a deceased child and four wounded children were discovered.”

“Our sincerest condolences go out to the families of the deceased and wounded,” said Belcher.

The wounded children and their adult escorts were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.

After completing a search of the area, Coalition forces detained three individuals whom credible intelligence sources indicated as being possible Taliban members.

According to Belcher however, the individuals’ identity and involvement in extremist activities will not be known until after they have been fully questioned.

Coalition forces also found several weapons and explosives during the search which were destroyed to prevent future use by militant forces.

Source: CENTCOM