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Afghan Soldiers Killed, U.S. Troops Wounded in Ambush
Saturday, July 27, 2002
By David Buchbinder
Reuters

The ambushed patrol, which King described as "small," was drawn from a variety of units, including special forces, conventional forces and the Afghanistan Militia Force. An American reaction force joined the battle. Less than 100 coalition soldiers were on the ground by the end of the fight.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Reuters
Two Afghan militiamen were killed and five U.S. soldiers wounded when a joint reconnaissance patrol was attacked in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, U.S. officials said.

The troops were on a reconnaissance mission east of Khost, in eastern Paktia province, when they came under fire from a walled compound.

"Four U.S. personnel were wounded in the initial exchange," Roger King, a U.S. spokesman at Bagram Air Base just north of Kabul, said. "The action lasted for several hours, and a fifth soldier was wounded before it ended."

He said two Afghanistan Militia Force soldiers working alongside the Americans were killed. At least three of the attackers were killed and one attacker was wounded, King added.

The wounded soldiers were all taken to Bagram Air Base for treatment.
(More: The Macon Telegraph News Source)
2002 © Reuters, Ltd.

Dan