These photos were taken before the ISAF members at Bagram Airfield inadvertently set fire to copies of the Quran on February 22, 2012 and precipitated protests across Afghanistan which resulted in at least 30 deaths and 200 injuries.

TRC-East PAO reported from Afghanistan on the epic snow fight at Gardez between TF Gold Geronimo Soldiers and Paktya PRT. Reprinted in full below.

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Cold rounds of solidified H2O were flying within the walls of Forward Operating Base Gardez Feb. 20. Paratroopers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Spartan, planned and executed a complex winter snowball ambush on members of the Paktya Provinicial Reconstruction Team as they were exiting their working quarters at lunch time.

Escalation of force was immediately implemented, with quick reaction teams joining the fight from what seemed to be every nook and cranny of the FOB.  At the height of the conflict, more than 50 Soldiers were receiving or returning fire. Multiple fighting positions were established, and then quickly overrun.

There were many moments during the battle between Task Force Gold Geronimo and Paktya PRT Soldiers, when it was difficult, if not impossible, to determine friendly forces from foe. In fact eyewitnesses claimed to have seen multiple incidents of turncoat activity.

The fighting raged on for more than 45 minutes before the majority of warriors on both sides of the battlefield retreated to the dining facility to carbo-load and hydrate.

As is so often the case in today’s modern warfield, victory was claimed by both sides.

No casualties were reported, and all snow balls were expended.

More photos here.

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• AUP Remove IED from Gardez Market (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
• ISAF, Afghan forces capture al Qaeda ‘facilitator’ in east (longwarjournal.org)
• 2 Boys With Suicide Vests Are Arrested in Afghanistan (nytimes.com)