KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The French government said Tuesday 10 of its soldiers died in fighting near Kabul, while U.S. and Afghan forces killed several insurgents in other clashes. The French defense ministry said its soldiers, part of the 1,670-strong French contingent with NATO forces in Afghanistan, had been engaged in fighting Taliban militants since Monday, CNN reported. Other reports said the fighting had been heavy but further details were not immediately available. Elsewhere Tuesday, the CNN report said several suicide bombers and militants tried to attack the Forward Operating Base Salerno, a U.S. base north of Khost in eastern Afghanistan, but were beaten back. Khost is about 12 miles from the border with Pakistan. The report said seven insurgents, including three suicide bombers, were killed. A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said the approaching militants had been observed by U.S. and Afghan troops at the base. A Taliban spokesman claimed 15 suicide bombers inflicted heavy casualties at the base, which was dismissed both by ISAF and local officials, the report said. The latest incident follows a suicide car bombing Monday outside the base in which 10 Afghan civilians died.
Pretty good stuff Mort. It never ceases to amaze me how many countries have sent troops in to help the cause - but they just don't publicize it. I wonder how destabilizing the end of Musharraf is going to be to this region... especially along the border.
It's a terrible tragedy. This was the result of a trap organized by the Talibans, who knew exactly where to set up this hell and make sure a maximum amount of casualties would fall. Reinforcents took four hours to arrive and airstrikes were not precise enough to stop the attacks. Some men fell after the surprsie attack due to bullets or shells, others were isolated until reenforcements arrived. There were 31 casualties (10 death and 21 wounded by bullets, mortar or grenade shells) , some of the men ran out of amno and could no longer defend themselves, but were still shot at until the taliban were forced out by reinforcements. From what I know there were eight guys from a same regiment and one apparently was a Legionaire, because I saw the foreign legion at the burial ceremonies. There was a moving ceremony at the invalides for those brave men who died for the Fight for Freedom againts the Taliban. The dead were decorated pothumously with the Legion d'honneur. Cheers for posting this Mortman. I appreciate that this comes from an American Vet. May they rest in peace and my deepest respect goes to their families.
I hope me and my boys sure sent a lot of those Scumbags to meet allah.... and Ill go back one day soon and kill more... the only good terrorist is dead
Sorry to hear that (about the ambush, not that you're going back Mort), sounds like a mess. I know our guys are having a lot of contacts in Helmand, particularly around Lashkar Gah where my mates company have been taking casualties, thoughts are with the lads and lasses of all nations who are out there. Well, maybe we'll see a little less French bashing for a while at least, I'm often amazed by how ignorant people are of the support their allies are giving them.
Cheers Stefan, There was a funeral in a town of Southern France today for one of the boys. 1000 people showed up at the cathedral and the shopkeepers closed there shops out of respect. Another man was buried on Reunion Island which is a French territory in the indian Ocean near Mauritius.
Nice to see we can respect all those no matter what the country, that fall in the fight against terrorism R.I.P.
The French contribution in Afghanistan is highly significant, very worthwhile and not widely reported. The same could be said of the Canadian and Australian contributions. Let alone those of the British and Americans. Some anger could be directed at those countries that should be there and are not.
Best snipers in the world are from the Princess pats light inf reg of the Canadian army... I saw them in action also worked with some Aussie and New Zealand SAS.. TOP notch and some French foreign legionaires, in my two tours of duty in that cess pool...
In Texas, patriotism is a HUGE part of the culture. In small town Texas, when a coffin is brought home, the town shuts down and the street is lined with people. In Houston suburbs, it's the same thing. In Houston proper, the procession will be announced on news-TV and radio along with the times on which freeway. The people then give the procession a lot of room (normal funeral processions have to fight traffic-hence the need for Police motorcycle escorts).
Hey Mike tell us more i read somewhere the canadians pulled off some pretty long shots out there. And Aussis and Kiwi SAS i know a bit about the Aussies but would be intrested to hear about the Kiwi's, french foreign legion para's or other?
I love to hear some more on the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the PPCLI has always been of interest to me. It's quite a rugged and historic military unit despite the soft name. :mapleleaf:
according to an afghan official, 4 soldiers were trapped and captured, then skinned alive, tortured and executed...Maybe just a rumor. Also, according to Gal StollSteiner, the talibans lost 80 men including 27 KIA, 13 of them had their corpse found by the coalition.
How frightful. I do know of some atrocities committed against captured Russian troops. Like cutting off hands. This is presumably all done in the name of Allah. Hmmmm.
