Polish helicopter attacked in Afghanistan

Photo: wojsko-polskie.pl

According to Brigadier General Bogdan Tworkowski, one of the soldiers was seriously injured, with one leg in danger of being amputated.

However, doctors at a field hospital in Ghazni have performed a successful operation preventing this.

Tworkowski told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that the attack occurred during a routine patrol, “in a very dangerous area that is highly populated with rebels.”

The insurgents opened fire on the helicopter with machine guns.

“Unfortunately, similar attacks on coalition forces are happening more and more often,” he said, noting about a dozen such incidents had occurred over the last week.

Two months ago, two American helicopter pilots were killed in the neighbouring district.

Polish forces have been stationed in Afghanistan since 2002, just months after the Taliban regime was compelled to abandon the capital, Kabul, in November 2001, under heavy attack from American forces.

To date, there have 37 Polish casualties, including one medic.

Poland is due to cease combat operations by the end of 2013, continuing only in a training capacity until the end of that year, when the Polish contingent is timetabled to leave Afghanistan. (nh)