Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT-KABUL: The Daesh terrorist group has released photos that purport to show weapons and equipment that belonged to US soldiers and captured by the group in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.
The Daesh insurgents have purportedly released photos of documents and gear of US soldiers, including the identity card of Ryan Jay Larson.
The photos were released on ISIS terrorist channels on August 6 with the description: “Exclusive: Amaq Agency received photos in which American weapons and military equipment can be seen that have been captured by fighters of the Islamic State in Nangarhar.
One of these pictures shows the identity of a US soldier named Ryan Jay Larson, whose fate is unknown, as well as bags, ammunition vests, a rocket, a US flag and several hand grenades.
A media source reported that the fighters of the country managed to attack the US and Afghan troops in the territories Kot, Schadal, Deh Bala, Adl Khil and Bandar, when tanks and heavy air support were used to ward off [Islamic State militants].” It is unclear if ISIS is claiming to have only captured the equipment of soldiers, or Larson also.
“No weapons captured at all,” US military spokesman Commander Ron Flesvig said regarding report recently took surfaced in the media that Daesh militants captured some weapons of US forces.
“We are aware of erroneous reports that US Army SPC Ryan Jay Larson was captured by ISIS in Afghanistan. These reports are false. He has been accounted for and remains in a duty status within his unit.”
“SPC Larson was attached to a unit conducting a partnered (operation) with Afghan Forces. The soldier’s I.D. and some of the equipment were left behind after the (operation). The loss of personal identification is unfortunate,” US military spokesman Commander Ron Flesvig said in an emailed statement on Sunday. The website that published the photos speculated that the equipment and weapons were left behind during that engagement, but Flesvig said American officials are still trying to determine exactly when and how it was lost.
The push in Nangarhar came after President Barack Obama cleared American troops to take a more active role in fighting militants in Afghanistan.
