Coalition forces provide medical care to woman and child

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces killed four armed militants, detained eight suspected militants and provided medical care to an Afghan woman and child, wounded by militants, during operations to disrupt activities in Kapisa and Khost provinces, Thursday.

In Tagab District, Coalition forces provided medical care to an Afghan woman and child who were injured by militants attempting to use them as human shields.  The woman and child, whom the forces believe live with the militants, were injured when a militant detonated a hand grenade.  Coalition forces provided medical care on the scene; however, their injuries were too severe.  The force evacuated them to a military hospital for further treatment.  Recognizing cultural sensitivities, Coalition forces are arranging for a male member to join the wounded woman and child at the medical facility.

The operation in Tagab targeted the Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) terrorist network, which is known to plan and coordinate attacks against innocent civilians and Coalition forces, to include the attack in August that killed ten French soldiers.  As the force attempted to search the compound, they received a large volume of small-arms fire and hand grenades from militants barricaded in a section of the compound.  Coalition forces responded with small-arms fire and killed them.  A search of the compound revealed multiple AK-47s, hand grenades and other military equipment which were destroyed to prevent future use.  The force detained three suspected militants as a result of the operation.

In Khost, Afghan and Coalition forces netted five suspected militants, including the targeted militant, during a combined operation in Mandozai District, Khost.  The operation targeted a Haqqani militant known to coordinate and direct suicide and roadside bombing attacks that kill and injure innocent civilians and Coalition forces.  The combined force searched the compounds without incident.