By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2011 – Coalition forces used a precision airstrike to kill Taliban insurgents involved in the Aug. 6 downing of the helicopter carrying 30 U.S. service members and eight Afghans, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan said today.
In a briefing from his headquarters in the Afghan capital of Kabul, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen told Pentagon reporters the action was a continuation of the original mission to dismantle the leadership of an enemy network in Wardak province\’s Tangi Valley.
\”This does not ease our loss,\” Allen said. \”But we must and we will continue to relentlessly pursue the enemy.\”
Near midnight on Aug. 8, the general said, coalition forces called in a precision airstrike with F-16s over the Chak district of Wardak province. According to details International Security Assistance Force officials released today, the strike killed Taliban leader Mullah Mohibullah and the insurgent who fired the shot — which ISAF assessed to be a rocket-propelled grenade, Allen said — associated with the Aug. 6 helicopter crash.
This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.