Civilians Rescued
A Rescue In Afghanistan
Saturday, April 14, 2007 6:11 PM
The Taliban are really stupid people.
Civilians Rescued By Coalition Forces
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Members of the Afghan National Police Special Reaction Team, advised by U.S. Special Forces Soldiers, and U.S. paratroopers rescued five civilian contractors from a mechanically disabled helicopter April 12, southwest of Ghazni in the Ghazni province.
Five civilian contractors on a helicopter made a precautionary landing near the village of Oaleh-e Ghafur due to mechanical problems, just before the hours of darkness.
ANP SRT members, USSF Soldiers and paratroopers from the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, operating near Ghazni, were notified of the distress call and immediately began making their way to the helicopter site. The civilian contractors began receiving small arms fire from Taliban extremists, shortly after the helicopter landed. The civilian contractors evaded the Taliban fighters until Coalition close air support arrived and engaged the pursuing enemy fighters. Three extremists were killed in the engagement.
Shortly afterwards, ANP SRT members and Coalition Soldiers secured the helicopter site, conducted a link-up with the civilian contractors, then transported the contractors to a nearby Coalition base. The civilian contractors were treated for minor injuries and released.
No Afghan civilian injuries were reported during the rescue mission.
“The ANP SRT members, U.S. Special Forces Soldiers and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division saved the lives of the five civilian contractors, despite an attack by the Taliban,” said Maj. Christopher Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson.
“With the recent kidnappings by extremist, these brave Soldiers and policemen, who rescued the civilians, likely prevented another cowardly hostage taking,” he added.
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