Norwegian ISAF troops have been involved with the deaths of 40 insurgents in Afghanistan, according to an analysis by Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) of military logs publicized by WikiLeaks. Norwegian military sources have never published figures about the losses their forces have inflicted on their opponents.
The 40 deaths are the result of 44 separate incidents revealed earlier this week by WikiLeaks. NRK noted that Norwegian troops have been involved in more incidents than the ones listed.
In addition to the 40 rebels reported killed in Afghanistan, Norwegian forces are also mentioned in connection with an Afghan motorcyclist who was shot and killed when he failed to stop after warning shots had been fired as he approached a military convoy of trucks.
The most deadly incident occurred in November 2008, when Norwegians took part in an operation where 30 opponents were killed in Afghanistan.
NRK interviewed a Norwegian soldier who spent six months last year with ISAF in Afghanistan. “From what I can see this describes everyday events over there in a credible way,” he says.
He confirms that he himself has taken part in operations described in the leaked reports. “Norway itself is not at war, but it feels a lot like war when someone is shooting at you,” he says to NRK, which has not published his name.
Views and News from Norway/Sven Goll
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