· Eight kidnappers killed in fierce gunfight
· Intelligence reports led to use of special forces
Richard Norton-Taylor
Tuesday September 25, 2007
The Guardian
Italian soldiers in Afghanistan. Photograph: Musadeq Sadeq/AP
Helicopter-borne British special forces yesterday rescued two Italian soldiers, killing their captors in a gunfight in western Afghanistan, defence sources said.
Troops from the Special Boat Service, the navy's equivalent of the SAS, were called in by Nato after intelligence reports that the Italians were about to be moved from a building east of the town of Farah. The SBS troopers were taken to the area by helicopter, and as Italian commandos stormed the building, the SBS attacked the two trucks in which the captors were about to drive the Italians away.
"The SBS was very much in the forefront of the mission. Most of the firefight was with our guys," a defence source said. "They are very chuffed," he added.
The Italian soldiers were last seen on Saturday at a police checkpoint in Herat province, west of Farah.
Brigadier General Vincent Lafontaine, a French officer with Nato staff in Afghanistan, said intelligence reports soon revealed where they were being held.
"There is a sort of window of opportunity if you achieve reliable intelligence," he said. "It's a success story because it was very quickly solved."
All eight of those who snatched the Italians were killed, Nato officials said. Both the Italian soldiers were injured, one seriously. Italian media reported he had gunshot wounds to the head and chest. British sources said he had been injured before the battle and may have been tortured.
Major Charles Anthony, a Nato spokesman in Kabul, said it was not clear whether the two Italians were wounded by gunfire from their rescuers or their kidnappers.
The Italians' Afghan translator was also wounded. Maj Anthony hinted that their driver might have been complicit in the kidnappings, and might have been killed in the rescue. "It's unclear what his status was or is," he said.
Abdul Rahman Sarjang, chief of police in the province of Farah, said he suspected the kidnappers were members of a criminal gang.
Major Anthony said the alliance had evidence that the kidnappers were Taliban. A rise in violent activity in Farah province has been attributed to the Taliban.
Romano Prodi, the Italian prime minister, said the operation represented "a bad defeat for the kidnappers and also a warning for the future". Asked whether the kidnappings would lead Italy to take troops out of Afghanistan, he said: "This certainly isn't the moment to change policy." Italy has 2,200 troops in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile Des Browne, the defence secretary, last night predicted the Taliban would need to be involved in the peace process in Afghanistan at some stage. He told a fringe event at Labour's party conference: "In Afghanistan, at some stage, the Taliban will need to be involved in the peace process because they are not going away any more than I suspect Hamas are going away from Palestine."
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
British special forces were involved in a daring raid to rescue two kidnapped Italians in Afghanistan.
Commandos from the Special Boat Service (SBS) joined a multi-national military team led by Italian troops to free the two intelligence officers who have been missing since Saturday.
British elite troops, British forces help free Italians in Afghanistan
SBS forces ambushed the kidnappers as they tried to move the Italians in two four-wheel drive vehicles
A fierce gun battle broke out when the SBS force ambushed the kidnappers as they tried to move the Italians in two four-wheel drive vehicles.
One of the Italians was seriously wounded while the other has non-life threatening injuries. At least nine of the kidnappers were killed.
The toll may include the Afghan driver who was working with the Italian officers when they were kidnapped. There were unconfirmed reports last night he may have been complicit in the kidnapping.
The elite British troops were later praised by Italian senator Alfredo Mantovano for their efforts, it was reported.
The politician said: "I would like to express my sincere thanks to the British troops who made a decisive contribution to the rescue of the two Italians."
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said the operation was a success and could put a dent in Afghanistan's rising kidnapping industry.
Mr Prodi, in New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly, said the rescue "was a heavy defeat for the kidnappers and therefore a warning for the future".
He added: "We did not have one moment of hesitation in giving the mandate to those who were in the field to act with the utmost determination."
Italy has been criticised by its Nato allies for negotiating with kidnappers in the past. In March, Rome allegedly conspired with the Afghan government to release five Taliban militants from prison in exchange for the safe return of a journalist in March.
______________________________________________
"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat its mistakes..."
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
