Operation Red Sand destroys insurgent compounds in Bala Murghab

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace | An insurgent compound explodes after a U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer drops a GBU-38 bomb on the facility in northern Bala Murghab Valley, Baghdis province, Afghanistan, April 4. The Lancer responded as a close-air support asset and assisted 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment scouts from Bulldog Troop's Red Platoon in a sustained combat engagement, which resulted in the destruction of insurgent strongholds and improvised explosive device making facilities.  

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN

04.06.2011

Story by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace  

ISAF Joint Command

HERAT, Afghanistan – Red Platoon, Bulldog Troop scouts launched Operation Red Sand in northern Bala Murghab, Baghdis province, Afghanistan, April 4, and destroyed insurgent compounds and improvised explosive device-making facilities.

Coalition forces, who primarily hailed from the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colo., killed an unknown number of insurgents and crippled anti-Afghan government activities in Bala Murghab.

“What we’re doing here is vital to the security in this area,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Joseph Law, Red Platoon leader. “This activity will hamper the [insurgent’s] will to fight and may make them think twice before continuing to terrorize local villagers.”

Though security in Bala Murghab is better than some areas in Afghanistan, local villagers have complained of insurgent activities in their villages.

Law responded and, under the umbrella of Operation Red Sand, the scouts pushed farther outside Bala Murghab’s security bubble than ever before.

Red Platoon launched several mounted and dismounted patrols in the nearby villages, capturing and killing insurgents, destroying known compounds, capturing IED-making materials and destroying an IED-making facility.

U.S. Air Force and Army aircraft assisted with close-air support, and Italian army soldiers provided observation support, which allowed them to accurately advise Army scouts on insurgent locations.

• Date Taken: 04.06.2011
• Date Posted: 04.06.2011 06:13
• Story ID: 68336
• Location: HERAT, AF