Romanian Troop Injured In Afghanistan Insurgent Attack

Romania’s Defense Ministry said Staff Sergeant Ionel Eugen Bida, of a battalion dislocated to Zabul province in southern Afghanistan, was injured Wednesday morning in an insurgent attack during a patrol mission 40 kilometers north-west of Qalat.

Bida, who was patrolling in a mixed Afghan-Romanian mission, was injured in the right leg and was flown by helicopter to the hospital in Lagman base, where he underwent surgery. The ministry added his condition is stable.

Romania currently has 1,020 troops in Afghanistan and has recently decided to deploy 600 more troops in the area.

Since 2002, 12 Romanian troops were killed during military operations in Afghanistan and 52 were injured.