ISIS Displays US Soldier's ID, US Says He's Fine
Posted on Sat Aug 06, 2016 at 07:09:45 PM EST
Tags: ISIS, Afghanistan (all tags)
Has ISIS in Afghanistan captured a U.S. soldier? A statement today by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq, accompanied by photographs displaying the Identification card of U.S. Army soldier Ryan Jay Larson, and what is purportedly his equipment, leaves that impression. But the statement stops short of claiming Larson was seized or killed
The statement says ISIS successfully repelled an attack by the Afghan army in the Tor Ghondi and Kha’stan Kamar areas in Nangarhar. It adds ISIS then conducted a counterattack and took control of three of of their points, killing two and injuring several others. It reports many fled. It says ISIS took “ghanimah” of weapons and ammunition. [More...]
The statement does not say ISIS is holding Larson -- only that it seized his documents and gear.
But the official U.S. forces in Afghanistan has already responded, saying soldier Larson is still with his unit.
We are aware of false reports that ISIS captured US Army SPC Ryan Jay Larson. He is accounted for & remains on duty status with his unit.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense confirms 10 Afghan officers were killed in operations the past 24 hours, including in Nangarhar.
According to a statement by MoD, the operations were conducted in Helmand, Khost, Nangarhar, Ghazni, Kunar, Logar, Uruzgan, and Farah province.
U.S. special commandos have been conducting combat operations in Nangarhar.
Nicholson revealed that American special operations forces have been heavily involved in ground fighting in Nangarhar in recent days, and five commandos have been wounded — three of whom had to be evacuated out of the co