WELLINGTON — New Zealand suffered its first combat death in Afghanistan since deploying troops there in 2003 when a soldier was killed on patrol, the government and defence officials said Wednesday.
The death was confirmed by Prime Minister John Key in a statement from Vanuatu, where he is attending the Pacific Forum. "This is New Zealand?s first combat loss in Afghanistan and reinforces the danger faced daily by our forces as they work tirelessly to restore stability to the province," Key said.
Two other soldiers were seriously wounded in the attack on Tuesday, but their injuries were not considered life threatening. A local interpreter was also injured.
Defence Force chief Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae said the attack took place in Bamiyan Province and the soldiers were members of the New Zealand military reconstruction team based there. "Three New Zealand vehicles which made up the patrol came under a complex attack by as yet unknown assailants," Mateparae said."We believe that an improvised explosive device or IED was detonated and then the patrol came under fire from two positions with rocket-propelled grenades and other small arms fire."
New Zealand has a contingent of 140 personnel carrying out reconstruction work in Bamiyan while a task force of 70 members of New Zealand's elite special forces are in Afghanistan and believed to be operating in Kabul. |