Afghan special operation forces ruin Taliban stronghold in Helmand

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

08.17.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan special operations soldiers repelled an insurgent ambush and destroyed 200 pounds of homemade explosives during operations Aug. 15-17 in Helmand province.

Afghan commandos from the 7th Special Operations Kandak and Afghan National Army special forces developed the operation to make it safe for Nahr-e-Saraj district leaders to streamline various outreach programs in the district. Security forces also used the operation to survey potential locations for Afghan Local Police checkpoints to improve security, said district police Chief Capt. Saymand Hekmatullah.

“First we need to take care of the security in the area and take care of the people,” Hekmatullah said. “It is my job to take care of the security, and we are doing our best to establish our country and take care of it.”

Taliban insurgents attacked the Afghan forces on several occasions throughout the operation, using machine guns, mortars, and rockets. The commandos, however, quickly countered each insurgent attempt, eventually driving them from the district.

“The sheer strength in numbers brought to the fight by the commandos provided an overwhelming effect on enemy forces, which caught them severely off guard,” an Afghan special forces soldier said.

The Afghan soldiers were able to communicate with each other clearly. They employed mortars and directed precision U.S. air support to overwhelm the insurgent attacks. Taliban fighters either fled or died, the Afghan special forces soldier said.

The commandos destroyed more than 200 pounds of homemade explosives, 30 feet of demolition cord, seven mortar rounds, six shoulder-fired rockets, five initiating devices and numerous bombmaking materials.

Afghan special forces spearheaded the operation from its planning phase through execution. They demonstrated a remarkable tactical proficiency and operated unilaterally - a significant step in confirming their capabilities as an independent security force.

• Date Taken: 08.17.2013
• Date Posted: 08.21.2013 05:48
• Story ID: 112310
• Location: HELMAND PROVINCE, AF