This week the Taliban announced on their website for the first time in Helmand Province that a number of their fighters were killed in action against Coalition Forces with no civilian casualties. This goes well outside of their modus operandi of either denying that any fighters were killed or falsely claiming that some, if not all of those killed were civilians. The number they gave on the website was 11 killed, but I know this to be false. I know it to be false firstly because I have seen the satellite images of 28 dead Taliban fighters. I also know this because I was there. It all started with sniper fire, but when the sun went down and the fighting had yet to be resolved we knew we were in for more the next day. After dark both sides retired, but the following morning they attempted to launch a mortar attack on our convoy. Needless to say we didn’t let them get too many shots off.
Interestingly, this was not a combat logistics patrol. We were not out looking for any fights this time. We were just escorting cargo from one point to another. It’s really amazing that we managed to bring such a high cost to bear while handicapped by so many non-gun trucks. Still, it was a long convoy. A few IEDs, but no serious injuries. Also, a kid picked my pocket and stole my knife in Nalazad and I had to run and tackle him to get it back. Thankfully I retrieved it, because it’s a really good knife.
