British Air Strike Hits Afghanistan Kids

British air strikes have flown into the news agenda today with five Afghan children injured when an Apache attack helicopter targeted a suspected insurgent on a motorbike.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has told the BBC that the Apache's crew fired at the insurgent with its machine gun.

A statement said: "Coalition forces take every allegation of civilian casualties seriously", and it seems the wounded children's' injuries are not life threatening.

The MoD said they were working in a field in the Nahr-e-Saraj area of Helmand Province on Saturday as UK forces targeted the alleged insurgent riding a motorcycle nearby.

It also said they were taken to Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand, for treatment.

Officials are investigating the incident, which is likely to focus on the accuracy of the Apache's cannon, and the speed with which they fire.

The MoD is expected to offer compensation in the form of ex gratia payments to the families of the children.

An MoD spokeswoman said: "On 23 July, UK forces used an Apache attack helicopter to conduct a strike operation against positively identified insurgents who were seen operating in Nahr-e Saraj (south).

"Regrettably, five local children working in a neighbouring field were injured during the strike. The five children were taken to Isaf medical facilities before being taken on to Camp Bastion where they received medical care."

She added: "Any incident involving civilian casualties is a matter of deep regret and we take every possible measure to avoid such incidents. A shooting incident review is now under way and UK officials in Afghanistan are keeping the provincial governor abreast of the results of the investigation."

Just last week, troops who had previously been operating Apache attack helicopter in Afghanistan were roundly praised for their "outstanding performance" by Prince Charles.

The Prince of Wales, who is Colonel in Chief, Army Air Corps, presented Operational Service Medals to soldiers from 4 Regiment Army Air Corps (4 Regt AAC) who have recently returned from Helmand Province.

The Regiment was on parade at Wattisham Flying Station, on July 20, as 35 soldiers, including aircrew and ground crew, who had completed their first tour, received their campaign medals.

Addressing the troops Prince Charles said: "The Army Air Corps' outstanding performance has drawn amazing admiration from those you support. I know all that you do is very much part of a team effort, everyone plays their part and I can only offer my thanks."

Gaddafi Attacked

Meanwhile, the 'other war' continues, with RAF aircraft bombing what has been described as a key intelligence building in Tripoli.

The attack breached the walls of Colonel Gaddafi's personal command complex in this weekend's attack, and inflicted further losses on pro-Gaddafi forces massed at Zlitan and Gharyan.

Royal Air Force Typhoon

The MoD said that in the early hours of Sunday morning, 24 July, RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft conducted a precision strike on the Central Organisation for Electronic Research (COER).

Major General Nick Pope, the Chief of the Defence Staff's Communications Officer, said: "Ostensibly an engineering academy, the COER has, in reality, long been a cover for the regime's nefarious activities.

"Up until Colonel Gaddafi's renunciation of weapons of mass destruction in 2003, the COER was responsible for his long-range missile development programme.

"Intensive surveillance by NATO over the past weeks revealed that the building was still being actively used by his security apparatus to repress the civilian population, and was thus a wholly legitimate target."

Also on Sunday morning, other RAF jets successfully attacked two staging posts near Zlitan being used to muster tanks, rocket artillery and ammunition.

Later that afternoon, an armed reconnaissance patrol located and destroyed a regime main battle tank near Gharyan, on the edge of the Djebel Nafousa, south of Tripoli.

Also on Saturday, RAF jets on patrol near Zlitan successfully struck four buildings which NATO surveillance missions had confirmed were being used as a command and control centre and a staging post for regime troops being mustered for attacks on the people of Libya.

Armed reconnaissance patrols continued in the area throughout the day, and, during Saturday night, RAF aircraft were able to conduct a precision strike on a large ammunition stockpile. In addition, HMS Ocean launched her Army Apache helicopters against a number of military positions between Zlitan and Al Khums, which were successfully engaged using Hellfire missiles.

On Saturday, 23 July, RAF aircraft used precision-guided weapons to breach the walls of Colonel Gaddafi's command complex in central Tripoli.

(BMcC/GK)