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MoD details major Afghanistan fight
05.01.09
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Details have emerged of a massive operation by British, Afghan and coalition forces in Afghanistan in which troops fought at close quarters, in knee-deep mud and in fierce trench battles reminiscent of the First World War.
The offensive in central Helmand province involved more than 1,500 troops and was one of the largest operations mounted by the Royal Marines since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
It was fought over 18 days around the town of Nad-e-Ali to capture four key Taliban strongholds.
Some of the Royal Marines taking part trudged more than 60km through mud with packs on their backs while also fighting insurgents at close quarters, the MoD revealed.
A Lance Corporal, signaller with the 77th Armoured Engineer Squadron, said: "I was in Nad-e-Ali for just over two weeks ... Some of the places we stayed in were a nightmare - sleeping in the mud was the worst.
"(At times) we were exposed and moving ahead of our infantry protection. It felt like we were being watched and it was difficult to tell who the enemy was - it was pretty scary."
The operation, which culminated in a battle on Christmas Day, claimed the lives of five British servicemen and wounded scores of others. About 100 Taliban fighters were killed, including a senior commander.
Operation Sond Chara - Pashto for Red Dagger - was named after 3 Commando Brigade's shoulder badge.
Describing Sond Chara, Captain Dave Glendenning, commander of the marines' artillery support team, said: "Almost every day we were involved in intense fire-fights ranging from rocket-propelled grenades and small arms 'shoot-and-scoots' to four-hour battles with the enemy forces as close as 30 metres."
The operation aimed to provide better security in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah following Taliban attacks in October, and to pave the way for a voter registration programme due to start early this year.
Reader views (5)
Where is Osama?
If we are not going after him then GET OUT. All that is going to happen is more American troops killed and more money down the drain. History repeats itself.
- Dusty Roads, Asheville, North Carolina, USA
Byron, the reason you haven't heard about it is called operational security. The general public has no reason to know the details of confidential military ops and no right to either. Believe it or not, terrorists and insurgents read Western news sources to.
Mr. Zatar is probably a terrorist himself, or a sympathizer.
- Anon, Southern California, USA
Why are we only hearing about this offensive now? What else is not being reported?
- Byron Christopher, Edmonton, Alberta
I wonder what we are really doing over there anymore? Why are we trying to do what has never been achieved from Alexander the Great to the Soviets it won't work.
The situation is made even worse by the fact that the government refusing to buy more brand new helicopters to transport the troops around. They just seem unwilling to spend the money, yet, happily waste it on various other bureacratic departments.
Time to get out.
- Jayne, London
This is a war of attrition. More and more nato troops are being hunted, slowly but surely. I can read the end result as such: Total defeat to nato, withdrawl, and Bush-like figure will say "our mission accomplished".
The reason for this gloom and doom scenario is, Talban are fighting for their land, they have all the time in the world. With not much to loose except being killed, a no deterrent to them, they can out smart and out wait nato.
In fact, seven years of not being able to tame afganistan is a huge embarresment to nato. The super power of the universe.
- Zait Zatar, Tampa, Florida
