when the first elements of "carmin 2" were approximately 50 metres from the peak at around 15:30, the group of fifty waiting militants launched their attack, quickly killing the squadron's deputy leader, the radio operator and the afghan interpreter with dragunov, ak-47 and rpg-7 fire. penon was struck by a bullet in the leg while tending the wounded, and killed by a second bullet as marsouin noël livrelli attempted to come to his rescue.