Insurgents in Afghanistan opened fire on a medical evacuation helicopter marked with the universally recognized Red Cross symbol, military officials said.
The helicopter had been called to Helmand province to evacuate a soldier injured by an improvised explosive device and when it attempted to land, insurgents opened fire, the International Security
Assistance Force said in a news release Saturday.
"Attacking a medical evacuation helicopter is un-Islamic, inhumane and a further demonstration of insurgent hypocrisy," said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Scott Alley, ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director.
The soldier was injured when a combined Afghan and coalition patrol conducting clearing operations in the area struck the IED.