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Latest update: 24/10/2008
- Afghanistan - France - missile tests - Taliban
French missiles abandoned in clashes with Taliban
The French army's General Staff confirmed media reports claiming two anti-tank missiles were left behind by French troops on Saturday following clashes with Taliban insurgents in the Kapisa region east of Kabul.
Two anti-tank Milan missiles were abandoned by French troops on Saturday, during clashes with Taliban insurgents, the General Staff of France's armed forces said in Paris. The announcement confirmed reports by French news networks TF1 and LCI.
Clashes broke out in Kapisa, east of Kabul , during an operation led by 300 French soldiers of the 8th Regiment of the marine paras (RPIMa), according to TF1’s special correspondent in the region. According to the journalist, no French soldier was hurt, but all 14 Taliban insurgents were killed. Kapisa is the same province where ten French soldiers had been killed in an ambush on Aug. 18.
A French unit was “surrounded by insurgents and we had to pull this group out” said Captain Christophe Prazuck, spokesman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in Paris. “We weren’t able to recover two missiles and a missile laucher” during the withdrawal from the scene, he added.
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(4) Reactions
Surounded
14 surround 300. 14 surrounders are killed and the 300 suroundees flee leaving behind 2 anti tank missiles and launchers. Uhuh. What happened to the weapons? Who picked them up? Why take them along in the first place the Taliban do not have tanks or helicopters. Why run away when you have killed all 14 ambushers? We did not get the full story here people. Ask questions.
anti-tank missiles
Whose tanks were these missiles intended for? We don't hear of the Taliban rumbling around in tanks. It's like the DU tank piercing ammunition, seems only suitable for friendly fire.
propaganda
300 against 14. 14 enemies killed. The 300 fled. 2 missiles let behind. Do they all think people is stupid?
arms
As long as they bobby trapped ,its okay.we could leave them as christmas presents.ps do we have any intelligense operators in these areas,if your going into a village level it to the ground first. then go in..or are there differnt instructions in the manuels of war.if i was going into any village aera ,i would send in the tanks to clear the way.,or are we not allowed to use tanks?