A Battlefield Tourist

Taliban Assault Nuristan/Kunar; Nine Americans Dead

Jul 13 at 10:10am by David Tate

Nine Americans are dead after a combined US/Afghan base is attacked along the Nuristani/Kunar border in northeastern Afghanistan.  30 miles northeast of that fighting, Afghan civilians and police are also battling as many as 500 militants. 

The US military confirms that a fierce battle in Nuristan Province killed nine Americans and wounded 15.  Four Afghan soldiers were also wounded.  The battle took place in Waygal district in the town of Wanat (Want). 

A US spokesman says the small outpost was attacked from multiple sides using rocket propelled grenades, small arms and mortars in a battle that began around 0430 on July 13 and raged into the day.  Helicopter gunships and close air support were used in the engagement.

Another report says that the small US outpost was first attacked by dozens of militants using small arms, rocket propelled grenades and mortar fire.  After US forces were able to stall the attack with close air support, the soldiers moved to the center of the town of Want and began fortifying the bazaar.

Taliban militants, fighting from surrounding houses and shops, launched a second attack early July 13th.  The Taliban claim to have completely overrun the original US outpost.  

The US military tells Reuters that while insurgents were using the villages’ buildings and mosque, reports the Americans lost control of the base are not true.  Officials say a forward observation point was taken and the main base was breached, but that defenders were able to keep control of the base.

The attack is near where Afghan authorities say a US airstrike killed as many as 27 people in what Afghan officials describe as a “wedding party”.  It is unclear whether the two events are related. 

Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade have been operating in the area for more than a year and have suffered more killed in action than any other coalition unit during the conflict in Afghanistan.

Related Fighting?

Afghan civilians have teamed up with Afghan Security Forces in the remote Bargi Matal district, Nuristan Province to fight off a Taliban attack on the district center.  Elsewhere in the region, According to various reports, “Pakistani Taliban” initiated the assault in the late morning of July 12 after crossing over from Chitral in Pakistan.  Other sources say fighting has been ongoing since July 10.  At least two police posts have been overrun.  Reports say a mixed force of as many as 500 militants, including Chechens, are involved. 

An Afghan government official says the fighting is ongoing with reports of one civilian, two police officers and two militants being killed.   Four other cops are missing.  Additional Afghan forces are responding to the area which a local police chief says are needed to keep the district center from falling.  Roughly 150 police officers are employed in Bargi Matal, who are being supported by “dozens” of the areas young men.

Bargi Matal

Bargi Matal is a scenic and very remote corner of Afghanistan consisting of more than 20 villages along the Kunar River north of Kamdesh.  For years following the US-led invasion, no overt coalition troops had stepped foot in the district.  Bargi Matal has a history of Wahhabi influence and, as recently as 2007, has been on the short list of places where Osama bin Laden could be hiding.

US forces finally moved into southern Nuristan Province in the summer of 2006, but do very little patrolling or humanitarian work in Bargi Matal.  The district lies north of Kamdesh, the main focus of US troops in Nuristan.

This is the second time in a week where reports of civilians attacking Taliban militants.  In northwestern Faryab Province, civilians killed two militants and chased ten more off when they tried to kidnap an aid worker.  The dead included Faryab’s Taliban “shadow governor”.

This story is ongoing and will be updated regularly.  Updated 7/14/08 1321 EST.