(KUNA) -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) claimed killing 25 Taliban fighters following a clash in southern Afghanistan on Thursday. Separately, a US soldier was killed as he fell out of a helicopter while it was landing at a military airfield in the same region the same day.
| Ummm... That's actually a 0:25 kill ratio. |
 A press release issued here, said a group of insurgents attacked an ISAF convoy with small arms fire following a landmine blast near Tarin Kot, capital of Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province. In the ensuring fight, 25 Taliban were killed by the ISAF soldiers. Several Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were injured; however, ISAF soldiers remained unhurt, said the press release. One local national was also killed and seven others wounded in exchange of fire between the foreign troops and the militants. The injured villagers were shifted to an ISAF medical facility for treatment.
 In a separate statement released from US' main Bagram base, north of Kabul, the military announced the death of a US soldier following an operation in Helmand province. The soldier fell out of a UH-60 helicopter whilst it was landing. He was immediately taken to Kandahar Airfield, where he subsequently died from his injuries, said the statement. Expressing grief over the death of the soldier, deputy commander of the US' Combined Joint Task Force - 76 Brigadier General James Terry said: "Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of the brave soldier who gave his life in defence of freedom in Afghanistan,." The commander said sacrifice of the fallen soldier would not be forgotten as the US forces continue their fight against the 'extremists'. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. |