A Battlefield Tourist

Heavy Fighting in Northern Helmand Kills Dozens

Jul 13 at 9:09am by David Tate

The US military is reporting heavy fighting in the northern Helmand Province district of Sangin that has left at least 40 militants dead.

The fight began when a routine coalition joint patrol was attacked July 12 with small arms and rocket propelled grenades.  The original ambush came from multiple sides and fortified positions but has spread as the fighting continues.  The coalition response includes close air support.  British Harriers and US FA-18 Hornets from the USS Abraham Lincoln have been used in recent days around Sangin.

The coalition is reporting 40 dead militants, more than 30 insurgent boats destroyed as well as the  destruction of several “hand bridges” across the Helmand River.  One coalition service member is also being reported dead in Helmand, however the district where the incident happened has not been disclosed.

Sangin district is primarily patrolled by British forces, however there is a platoon of US Marines in Sangin mentoring the Afghan Security Forces there.

Taliban Country

Sangin has traded hands a few times in this conflict.  Most recently in April 2007 when 82nd Airborne paratroopers and the British Army wrested control of the district, from the Taliban, during a three day operation in April of that year.  In the weeks before that assault British troops, operating from a base there, engaged Taliban forces 72 times in a 20 day span.  The fight to retake Sangin was part of NATOs largest push of the war known as “Operation Achilles”.

In 2006 when the British moved into Helmand, there were no immediate plans to send troops to Sangin because of the heavy Taliban concentrations.  However, the Brits ultimately did send units to certain district centers, including Musa Qala and Sangin, after local tribal leaders asked for the presence to help assert government authority.

From June 2006 until NATO forces arrived in force the following April the undersized British company in Sangin’s District Center found itself in an environment where they literally fought off waves of Taliban attackers for their lives.  British troops nicknamed the post at Sangin, “Sangingrad”, with the fighting around it considered some of the most intense British action since the Korean War.

On July 16, 2006, NATO launched “Operation Mountain Thrust” into Sangin with the goal of breaking the siege of the British there.  More than 700 American, Canadian, Afghan and Estonian troops took part in the operation, which did ease the pressure on the British, but did not break the siege.

This is a developing story and I will continue to update as regular as I can.  Updated 1232.