ISAF Officials Express Regret Over Civilian Casualty

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 28, 2010 - International Security Assistance Force officials in Afghanistan expressed regret today for the death of a religious leader who was killed when an ISAF convoy fired on what appeared to be a threatening vehicle. "Despite all the measures that we put in place to ensure the safety of the Afghan people, regrettable incidents such as this one can occur," ISAF spokesman Brig Gen. Eric Tremblay of the Canadian army said. "On behalf of ISAF, I express my sincere regrets for this loss of life and convey my deepest condolences to his family."

A thorough investigation is being conducted, command officials said in a written statement, and appropriate action will be taken to ensure that the personnel involved complied with policies designed to protect the civilian population. "We constantly review these policies to provide the greatest possible protection to civilians," the statement said.

The family will be compensated in accordance with local customs.

In other news from Afghanistan, international and Afghan forces killed or captured numerous insurgents and seized enemy weapons in various incidents and operations in recent days:

-- An Afghan-international security force detained several insurgents today in Kandahar province's Ghorak district.

-- An Afghan-international security force came under fire yesterday from a large number of insurgents while conducting a patrol in Baghlan province. The insurgents were firing rocket-propelled grenades across a river. The patrol called for air support. ISAF air assets bombed and strafed the insurgents in a tree line. Afghan forces estimate 12 to 20 insurgents were killed.

-- An Afghan-international security force discovered a weapons cache in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, Jan. 26. The cache consisted of a rocket-propelled grenade, an antipersonnel mine, a pressure plate, a mortar bipod, radios and an assault rifle with a full magazine. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the munitions.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)