Taliban Attacks In Afghanistan 2012 Video; US-British Base, Cite Prince Harry And 'Innocence Of Muslims' Film As Reasons
On Saturday, Sept. 15, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack against a major British base in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province, which killed two U.S. Marines and wounded several other troops.
What was their reasoning behind the violence? The anti-Islamic film "The Innocence of Muslims," which ridicules the Prophet Muhammad, and the presence of Britain's Prince Harry, who's serving in Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Kari Yousef Ahmed told CBS News the attack was mostly done to avenge the film, but the base Camp Bastion, a huge British base adjacent to Camp Leatherneck, was chosen because of Prince Harry. The camp is one of the largest and most heavily defended military facilities in Afghanistan, according to a CBS/AP article.
"We attacked that base because Prince Harry was also on it and so they can know our anger," Taliban spokesman Qari Youssef Ahmadi told The Associated Press by telephone. He added, "Thousands more suicide attackers are ready to give up their lives for the sake of the Prophet."
Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, was unharmed in the attack. According to Britain's Press Association, the attack took place a mile from the section of the complex where the prince was located.
U.S. officials only confirmed that two Marines were killed in the attack, though it has not been reported how many service members are dead or wounded in total, the CBS/AP article reported.
Lt. Col. Stewart Upton, a spokesman at Camp Leatherneck, and Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand's governor, said 16 Taliban fighters were also killed.
Visit.CBS to see the video report on the incident.
