WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — NBC news reported, citing a US military statement, that Afghan Special Security Forces and the US Special Mission Wing had launched a helicopter assault in the Nawzad district in Afghanistan that freed at least 40 Afghan security forces.
"The liberated prisoners were released to the Ministry of Defense authorities to receive medical care. The information on their initial capture is not known," NBC quoted the statement as saying.
The United States has provided intelligence as well as help with planning to conduct an operation to free several dozen Afghan security personnel from a Taliban prison, US Forces in Afghanistan spokesman Col. Michael Lawhorn told Sputnik on Friday.
"The US provided intelligence and planning support," Lawhorn said.
US Department of Defense spokesman Christopher Sherwood also told Sputnik on Friday that Afghan forces freed several dozen security staff in an operation they conducted on December 3 with support provided by the United States.
"An independent Afghan operation successfully freed up to 60 Afghan security personnel from a Taliban prison Thursday night," Sherwood said. "The US only provided intelligence support and surveillance overwatch during the operation, no US forces on ground during the raid."
Sherwood explained that the freed individuals included members of the Afghan police, border police and army, who were released to the Afghan Ministry of Defense for medical care.
He also said the Afghan Special Security Forces’ ground element and the Special Mission Wing conducted the helicopter assault mission in the Nawzad district of Helmand Province.
