Afghan special forces, commandos kill 60 Taliban in battle for Mirza KalaySpecial Forces, Commandos kill 60 Taliban in battle for Mirza Kalay

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

09.16.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Brandon McIntosh 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Afghan National Army special forces and commandos from the 3rd Special Operations Kandak withstood an attack by an estimated 90 Taliban fighters, killing more than 60 Sept. 12 in Kandahar province’s Mya Neshin district.

The elite Afghan soldiers were clearing the Mirza Kalay village when they were ambushed by the Taliban force. The 3rd SOK soldiers endured a 12-hour gun battle, fending off shoulder-fired rockets, small arms weapons and machine gun fire.

Taliban fighters employed a variety of tactics from several positions in an attempt to thwart the 3rd SOK soldiers’ operation. The elite Afghan force, however, repelled each Taliban try, ultimately forcing their retreat.

The 3rd SOK’s success in this operation is not only attributed to their fighting skills, but their ability to gather and refine intelligence. Such increased capabilities greatly contribute to operations planning, making them well prepared to face enemy threats.

Independent operations, such as this, are also more common among Afghan special operations forces. Afghan special forces and commandos consistently engage insurgent forces in austere regions of the country to expand their security footprint as U.S. and NATO forces retrograde from remote outposts.

The operation also shows Afghan special operations’ ability to protect civilians amid the Taliban’s disregard for staging ambush’s near villages and urban areas, Lt. Col Sher Mohammad, 3rd SOK commander, said.

There were no Afghan military or civilian casualties reported from this operation.

Mohammad is expected to make a public address within the next few days on the successes of his kandak over the past few weeks.

• Date Taken: 09.16.2013
• Date Posted: 09.16.2013 03:34
• Story ID: 113680
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF