FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2009
Release Number 20090203-01
Afghan civilian injured in escalation of force incident
KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan civilian was injured March 1, after failing to heed warnings from a combined force convoy in Jalalabad City, Nangahar Province.
The combined elements were conducting a reconnaissance patrol when a vehicle made an abrupt U-turn in the middle of the military convoy. The convoy attempted to wave the vehicle away using visual and audio signals. The driver was not deterred, resulting in warning shots being fired by the convoy. The driver of the vehicle still did not adhere to the warnings. Acting in self-defense, the combined elements used small-arms fire to disable the vehicle, inadvertently wounding a male passenger.
Prior to the incident, the combined elements had received reports of a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeting Coalition Forces that had killed six civilians in the vicinity, as well as reports of other SVBIED’s in the area.
“We do everything possible to avoid non-combatant injuries; however, escalation of force is in place to protect Coalition and Afghan forces,” said U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Spokesman, Col. Greg Julian. “All escalation of force incidents in which non-combatants are injured are fully investigated.”
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United States Forces Afghanistan’s mission, in coordination with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, is to conduct operations to defeat terrorist networks and insurgents by developing effective governance and building the Afghan National Security Force. Effective security throughout the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan facilitates continued regional stability and increases economic development for the people of Afghanistan.
Contact Information – US Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs Office
Tel +93 (0) 799 51 2919 or cell phone 93 (0) 707 355 965
USFOR-A-MediaRelations@afghan.swa.army.mil