Kiwi soldier shot dead during operation in eastern Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

Kiwi soldier shot dead during operation in eastern Afghanistan

2011-09-28 20:56:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- A soldier from New Zealand was shot and killed Wednesday while attempting to arrest suspected would-be suicide bombers in eastern Afghanistan, officials said. The operation is still ongoing.

The New Zealand Chief of Defense Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, said the attack happened while Afghan officials were attempting to serve an arrest warrant in a compound southeast of Kabul which is suspected to house suicide bombers. The officials were accompanied by a number of New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) personnel.

"As the group moved to the compound it was engaged by suspected insurgents," Jones said. "The SAS trooper was struck in the head by a bullet gravely injuring him, and he was medically evacuated to a hospital where he later died."

Hours later, New Zealand defense officials said the battle was continuing with 'significant' exchanges of fire and reports of multiple explosions. There were no immediate reports of other casualties.

In response to the news, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key expressed sadness on behalf of his government. "I am saddened by the loss of this SAS soldier, the second from the unit to die in Afghanistan," he said. "It is a reminder of the volatile and dangerous conditions that our Defense Force personnel face in Afghanistan while serving their country."

Key added: "This soldier has paid the highest price for his service to this country, and we mourn his loss with heavy hearts." The family of the soldier was informed of his death, but his name will not be released until Thursday.

Coalition casualties in Afghanistan have been rising sharply in recent years, with a total coalition death toll of 709 in 2010, making it the deadliest year for international troops since the war began in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

There are currently more than 130,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, including at least 188 New Zealand troops according to data released by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) earlier this month. The majority of ISAF troops are from the United States and the United Kingdom.

So far this year, at least 459 coalition service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Most troops are American and are killed in the country's south, which is plagued by IED attacks on troops and civilians. The deadliest incident happened last month when a U.S. helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 U.S. troops, seven Afghan troops and an Afghan interpreter.

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