PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. and Afghan forces completed an operation to increase security and disrupt insurgents’ activities in and around Sahak Village, Afghanistan, May 16.

The operation, called “El Dorado,” was a combined mission between 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Lethal, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, and the 1st Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 203rd Corps of the Afghan National Army.

ANA Col. Mahmoud Zazai, commander of the 1st Kandak lead Afghan forces during the combined operations.

“U.S. and Afghan forces will work together during all clearing operations,” said Zazai. “Combined, the mission will demonstrate the resolve of the Afghan government to provide better and increased security for all Afghans.”

The operation also tested the ANA’s ability to operate for an extended period away from their bases and rely on logistical sustainment and support during the week-long operation.

“Each unit during the mission will be required to keep themselves supplied with not only food and fuel but also any other support such as maintenance or ammunition,” said Zazai. “This operation will be a test of our ability to conduct sustained operations with minimal support from the U.S. military.”

TF Lethal’s Company D partnered with the 4th Coy, 1st Kandak, 203rd Corps.

“One of the primary goals of the operation is to place a great deal of pressure upon the enemy,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steve Boesen from Ankeny, Iowa, TF Lethal commander. “That pressure will create separation between the insurgents and the local population, and the Afghan and the U.S. military hope to exploit that with future missions and projects that will benefit the locals.”

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Chris Burk, a platoon leader in Company D, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, led his platoon during the clearing operations in and around Sahak.

“The mission accomplished many goals by discovering weapon caches, explosives, persons of interest and general security sweeps,” said Burk. “In addition, ANA and U.S. forces were able to disrupt the enemy’s ability to operate near the village.”

Burk’s platoon cleared more than four large caches, rounded up more than a dozen insurgents, and confiscated more than 30 unregistered weapons.

Afghan law allows individuals to own weapons as long as they are registered with the Afghan government.

Future combined operations will work to disrupt the insurgents’ ability to operate freely, allow for improved security and set the ground conditions for the incoming 279th Infantry Battalion, TF Creek, of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, who are scheduled to replace TF Lethal this summer.

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