8 U.S. troops Killed in Nuristan Province Afghanistan bringing the death toll of US soldiers to 16 for the month of October
Peter H. Scrooby
October 05, 2009
Kabul, Afghanistan – 8 U.S. troops where killed in a battle Saturday October 3rd in Kamdesh district of the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan.
A remote battle raged between U.S. troops, Afghanistan security forces as upwards of 500 insurgents armed with heavy automatic weapons, mortars, and rocket propelled grenade launchers attacked two remote outposts in the mountainous remote region of Afghanistan from multiple positions.
The pitched battle claimed the lives of 8 U.S Troops and reports of 5 or 6 killed from the Afghan security forces. The Police chief and other officers of the district are reported missing. From Kabul, The Interior Ministry confirmed that they have indeed lost contact with the police force, but did not disclose how many had gone missing.
The battle was launched from nearby a mosque and village. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, yet sources say that this was a mix of local militia, Taliban fighters and al Qaeda linked loyalists.
The fight was continued into Sunday, after gunships, artillery and air strikes repelled the attack hours before. Heavy enemy casualties were reported. As of Monday there is an ongoing offensive conducting sweeps of the area for rogue fighters that may remain.
The high mountainous area is difficult terrain that is 25 miles from Pakistan and 145 miles from Kabul. The region has been a gateway for insurgents to cross effectively between Pakistan and Afghanistan and more recently so.
These attacks come after Gen. Stanley McChrystal, top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan has asked President Obama for more troops and also called for a more localized effort of troops in to more populous areas instead of such remotes outposts. President Obama is yet to decide on an increase in troops.
One US soldier was also killed in an attack in the south on Sunday bringing the death toll of US troops to 16 for the month of October.
This is the deadliest and boldest attack launched on troops since a similar attack that occurred July 13, 2008 in the region killed 9 troops that later became known as the Battle of Wanat.
Across the border in Islamabad,Pakistan on Monday a suicide bomber disguised as a security officer detonated in the lobby of the U.N. heavily fortified World Food Program compound killing 5 people.
A remote battle raged between U.S. troops, Afghanistan security forces as upwards of 500 insurgents armed with heavy automatic weapons, mortars, and rocket propelled grenade launchers attacked two remote outposts in the mountainous remote region of Afghanistan from multiple positions.
The pitched battle claimed the lives of 8 U.S Troops and reports of 5 or 6 killed from the Afghan security forces. The Police chief and other officers of the district are reported missing. From Kabul, The Interior Ministry confirmed that they have indeed lost contact with the police force, but did not disclose how many had gone missing.
The battle was launched from nearby a mosque and village. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, yet sources say that this was a mix of local militia, Taliban fighters and al Qaeda linked loyalists.
The fight was continued into Sunday, after gunships, artillery and air strikes repelled the attack hours before. Heavy enemy casualties were reported. As of Monday there is an ongoing offensive conducting sweeps of the area for rogue fighters that may remain.
The high mountainous area is difficult terrain that is 25 miles from Pakistan and 145 miles from Kabul. The region has been a gateway for insurgents to cross effectively between Pakistan and Afghanistan and more recently so.
These attacks come after Gen. Stanley McChrystal, top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan has asked President Obama for more troops and also called for a more localized effort of troops in to more populous areas instead of such remotes outposts. President Obama is yet to decide on an increase in troops.
One US soldier was also killed in an attack in the south on Sunday bringing the death toll of US troops to 16 for the month of October.
This is the deadliest and boldest attack launched on troops since a similar attack that occurred July 13, 2008 in the region killed 9 troops that later became known as the Battle of Wanat.
Across the border in Islamabad,Pakistan on Monday a suicide bomber disguised as a security officer detonated in the lobby of the U.N. heavily fortified World Food Program compound killing 5 people.
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