Non-combatant, wounded by Taliban in Helmand, recovering in Tarin Kowt Hospital

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Auxiliary Police officers, advised by Coalition forces, rescued and treated a non-combatant who was wounded by insurgent small arms fire during a failed Taliban attack west of the Musa Qalah wadi, Helmand province, Sept. 5.

Jar Mohammed, 50, was working at his Anjir Shali farm when he heard nearby gunfire.  According to his statement to ANAP, he went into his house to take his wife and three children away from the fighting.  As the family was leaving their farm, he was shot in the right leg by insurgent small-arms fire.  Mohammed was immediately treated by Coalition medical personnel and evacuated to the Coalition medical facilities in Tarin Kowt for further treatment.

Currently, Mohammed is in stable condition. He went through several surgeries as Coalition doctors attempted to save his leg, but in the end they were forced to amputate the severely damaged limb.

 “The insurgents have further demonstrated their intentions to harm innocent Afghan non-combatants and try to destroy Afghanistan,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson.  “The ANSF and Coalition are doing everything possible to prevent harm to non-combatants in all our operations.  Unfortunately, the enemies of peace in this country do not follow this same practice.  Our thoughts are with Mr. Mohammad and his family as he recovers from this heinous act carried out by the extremists.”

The combined force was conducting a combat patrol in the vicinity of Anjir Shali Village, 17 kilometers northwest of Sangin District Center when they came under attack from Taliban fighters. More than 20 insurgents were killed in the fighting that followed, and one non-combatant (Muhammad) was wounded.

No ANSF, Coalition or other non-combatants were injured or killed in this engagement.