Attackers suffered casualties in firefight involving Finns and Swedes

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The gunmen who attacked a group of Finnish and Swedish peacekeepers and Afghan security forces in the north of Afghanistan on Thursday suffered losses in the firefight. The commander of Finnish forces in the area, Lieutenant Colonel Tommi Härkönen said that a few of the attackers were killed.
      The Finns and Swedes were on hand in support of local security officials who were taking part in an operation in the western part of the area under Finnish control, around 160 kilometres from the peacekeepers’ base in Mazar-i-Sharif. Härkönen said that the Afghan forces were conducting a “show of force and taking control” operation, which was more extensive than usual, and of loger duration.
     
“The attackers opened fire in the morning against both the Afghan security forces and us, and we returned the fire” Härkönen said on Friday in Mazar-i-Sharif.
      The firefight lasted a few hours, and mainly involved the use of small arms. Härkönen said that there were no reports that heavier weaponry, such as bazookas, would have been used. The attack was nevertheless fairly intense, and the situation was dangerous; there was a request put to ISAF for air support. After a plane fired on the attackers, the situation was brought under control.
      The exact number of attackers is not known. “Some managed to escape, and some were detained. A few attackers were killed”, Härkönen said.
     
Taking part in the fighting were between five and ten Finnish peacekeepers and about 20 Swedes. It has not been ascertained if the casualties on the rebels’ side were inflicted by Swedish, Finnish, or Afghan fire.
      The only previous time that Finnish soldiers were involved in an actual exchange of fire in Afghanistan was in early October.
      The firefight took place in Star-i-Pol, which Härkönen has characterised as a problem area in the wider area where the Finnish forces operate. “It is a bad area from the point of view of terrain, which gives the rebels an advantage of sorts.”
      The mountainous, thinly-populated area is ideal for rebel activities. From a vantage point in the mountains, it is easy to fire on convoys down below.
     
Currently the focus of the operations of the Finnish forces in Afghanistan is the second round of the Presidential elections scheduled for the weekend. Härkönen says that plans are currently being drawn up on the best way that security forces there could be supported.
      “We are mainly going under the same concept as we did in the first round. Small changes will be made, once the experiences of the first round are analysed. The main responsibility for security remains with local officials”, Härkönen said. He added that it does not appear that the rebels would have intensified their attacks in the Finnish area of operations as the elections approach.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish peacekeepers under fire in Afghanistan (30.10.2009)
  Finnish forces take fire again in Afghanistan (5.8.2009)
  Finnish soldiers return from Afghanistan (29.10.2009)
  Attack on Finns in Afghanistan leads to rethink of safety precautions (6.10.2009)

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