A spokesman in Afghanistan says U.S. military equipment, including the identification card of a soldier, which was captured and displayed by the Islamic State last month was abandoned by U.S. forces when they came under fire while evacuating wounded troops.

"We have been able to determine that the ID card and most of the pictured equipment was lost during recent operations in southern Nangarhar," Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland told the Washington Examiner in an email from Kabul.

"The soldiers were involved in actions at a temporary collection point for casualties," Cleveland said. "The CCP came under enemy fire. As a result, the CCP was moved to a safer location."

The U.S. was evacuating wounded American troops who were among a total of five wounded soldiers previously disclosed by the Pentagon.

"Over the course of a couple of days, there were five US soldiers wounded by small arms fire or shrapnel," Cleveland wrote. "None of the injuries were life-threatening. Two were returned to duty and three were evacuated to Germany for further treatment."

In their haste to relocate, some equipment was left behind, but Cleveland denied that the U.S. positions had been "overrun."


"For understandable reasons, the lives of soldiers were not put at risk to recover the equipment prior to the scheduled exfiltration from the area at the already planned conclusion of the operation," Cleveland said. "The loss of any equipment is regrettable, but no equipment is worth undue risk to those involved."

Cleveland said the loss would not have any measurable impact on the operations.