ISAF Joint Command- Afghanistan
2011-07-S-074
For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (July 25, 2011) – We are aware of an incident in Sayyidabad when a coalition patrol struck an improvised explosive device while conducting a road clearance operation in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province. One civilian was killed and several coalition members were injured.

Following the IED explosion, coalition forces were engaged by insurgents with small arms fire. The patrol responded to this threat by returning fire on the insurgent position. Once the exchange ended, ISAF forces conducted an assessment of the area in which three civilian bodies were found and one wounded civilian was discovered in a vehicle. ISAF forces provided first-aid to the injured civilian.

At this stage it is unclear how the civilians in the small arms fire incident were killed.

ISAF are aware that government officials have initiated an investigation into the incident and will fully cooperate with this investigation. An ISAF Incident Assessment Team has also been sent to the area.