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Latest update: 14/08/2011
- Afghanistan - Afghanistan war - France
French soldier shot dead in Afghanistan
A French soldier was shot dead by an insurgent during an operation in the northeast Kapisa province, France’s Ministry of Defence said Sunday, the 74th French military fatality since the start of the NATO-led campaign in 2001.
By News Wires (text)
AFP - An insurgent shot dead a French soldier Sunday in the northeastern Afghan region of Kapisa, the French presidency said in a statement.
"It is with great sadness that the president of the republic learned of the death this morning in Afghanistan of a lieutenant from Colmar's 152nd infantry regiment," the statement said.
The lieutenant's death, which took place during a support mission for the national Afghan forces, brings to 74 the number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001.
"While deadly, these recent operations do not dent France's determination... and reflect the intensity of the insurgents' desperate attacks," the presidency said.
According to French military sources, the incident occurred when French and Afghan forces were conducting a search operation in the south of the Kapisa region, around 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Tagab.
Bertrand Bonneau, an army spokesman, said that the operation was part of France's involvement in preparations for a handover of full security responsibilities to homegrown Afghan forces.
The dead soldier was identified as Camille Levrel, a 36-year-old officer who had also served in Kosovo and Chad.
A French soldier was killed and four others wounded on Thursday in Kapisa.
Out of the 74 French soldiers killed since Paris contributed troops to the US-led operation in Afghanistan in 2001, 22 died this year alone.
Around 4,000 French troops are serving in Afghanistan, most of them in Kapisa, and President Nicolas Sarkozy has said all will be withdrawn by 2014.
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Comments (1)
Afghanistan
This past week’s tragedy in Afghanistan where 30 Americans, including 22 SEALs, were killed, was the result of a lucky shot by a Taliban gunner. Helicopters which transport troops and supplies are organic to operations in this mountainous combat environment . Rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank weapons, are inaccurate, else helicopter shoot downs would be more common. This loss does indicate not an overall trend in the conflict.
http://napoleonlive.info/what-i-think/afghanistan-reality-check/
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