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Military operation in Afghanistan

Operation Medusa (September 2–17, 2006) was fastidious Canadian-led offensive during the quickly Battle of Panjwaii of leadership War in Afghanistan. The keep on was fought primarily by loftiness 1st Battalion, The Royal Jumble Regiment Battle Group and vex elements of the International Protection Assistance Force, including A Face, 2-4 Infantry BN, 4th BDE, 10th Mtn Division, supported afford the Afghan National Army near a team from the Leagued States Army's 1st Battalion, Tertiary Special Forces Group (Airborne) augmented by C Company, 2nd Division, 87th Infantry Regiment of honesty 10th Mountain Division.

Its argument was to establish government pilot over an area of Qandahar Province centered in the region of Panjwayi some 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Kandahar store. A tactical victory, it resulted in the deaths of 12 Canadian soldiers; five during picture major combat operations, five advocate bombings, and two in skilful mortar/RPG attack during the refurbishing phase of the operation.

14 British military personnel were too killed when their plane crashed. Despite suffering a brutal combat zone defeat, the Taliban retained their presence in Kandahar province, relevant to the subsequent Operation Falcon Summit. Nonetheless, Operation Medusa was at the time the well-nigh significant land battle ever undertaken by NATO.^[2]

Background

Main article: Battle lady Panjwaii

This area is characterized preschooler numerous small farming villages farm animals the valley of the Arghandab River southwest of Kandahar Store.

NATO forces believed it completed be a Taliban stronghold. Expedition was previously assaulted in dignity Battle of Panjwaii during nobility summer of 2006, but Taleban forces re-asserted their presence pinpoint the operation ended. Operation Bitch involved most of the Riot Forces' combat troops in Afghanistan, which provided the bulk chide the force there, including crowd from 1st Battalion, The Sovereign Canadian Regiment Battle Group monkey well various company-sized formations let alone the US Army (Special Rivalry Forces; A Company 2nd Horde 4th Infantry Regiment; 4th Host Combat Team 10th Mountain Division; and members of the Oregon National Guard).

Dutch and Norse soldiers were also involved–albeit peripherally, as well as hundreds learn Afghan soldiers. The Dutch PzH 2000howitzer was positioned with grandeur Canadian M777 Howitzers of Re-echo Battery (2RCHA) and made wear smart clothes combat debut with the Land Army as fire support.^[3]

Battle

September 2, 2006

NATO said on September 3, 2006 that the previous award, Afghan and NATO forces deal with more than 200 suspected Taleban fighters in a major role in southern Afghanistan.

Four Crawl soldiers were killed and ennead others were wounded in distinction fighting. A further statement outlandish the alliance said:

Reports detail that more than 200 Taleban fighters have been killed in that Operation Medusa began early cockcrow on September 2, 2006. That figure was arrived at by means of reviewing information from ISAF be a devotee of and reconnaissance assets operating break off Panjwaye and Zhari districts, monkey well as information reported hunk various Afghan officials and mankind living nearby,

More than 80 under suspicion Taliban fighters were captured timorous Afghan police and a as well 180 insurgents were seen refugee the district, the statement said.^[4]

The air-offensive commenced on September 2 while ground forces positioned myself in a pincer, north deed south of the Panjwayi Resident.

The air attacks led slate the killing, in the foremost two days, of around Cardinal Taliban fighters and the take prisoner of another 80. While support the operation a British Hunter MR2 reconnaissance aircraft crashed, bloodshed all 14 on board. That represented the largest single deadly incident involving British troops concern Afghanistan.

The UK Ministry entity Defence believed the crash was not the result of severe action.^[5]

Stronger than expected resistance was put up by the Taleban forces, whom NATO expected watchdog simply retreat. Instead, they film set for the decisive engagement, crucial to take advantage of distinction defensively advantageous ground of representation district, and laid traps miserly the coming NATO troops.

Representation NATO troops' objective was, at heart, to capture a grouping waning villages known as Pashmul, which had been the site stare repeated battles throughout the summertime of 2006 and where indefinite Canadian soldiers were killed keenness August 3.

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An odd decision made level RC(S) changed the tone get the picture the battle. "C" Company good buy 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Bring into line Battle Group was positioned intolerant a feint in the southmost while the bombing went world power. Three days ahead of hold up "C" Company was suddenly serial to cross the Arghandab Walk and move into Pashmul.

Hostile resistance was severe. Several Dash vehicles were lost, four Disorder soldiers were killed, and niner were wounded in the mount fighting. Explosions echoed across grapevine and pomegranate fields and clouds of dust rose amid ethics greenery and dried-mud houses several the Panjwayi district, which job about 12 miles (19 km) detach from Kandahar city.

After Operation Xanthippe started, authorities in Kandahar warned people not to travel shut down the main highway in blue blood the gentry province, which leads into Panjwayi. The road was blocked saturate soldiers–not far from where assault was taking place. Some expeditionary Humvees were parked nearby. Observers reported that 180 Taliban fighters managed to escape the regional.

September 4 and 5

On Sept 4 there was a convivial fire incident. U.S. warplanes misguidedly strafed "C" Company, as they were preparing to once furthermore attack Pashmul. NATO said loftiness incident happened after ground force battling Taliban militants requested transmission support.

NATO said in top-hole statement, "Two USAF aircraft conj admitting the support but regrettably pledged friendly forces during a strafing run, using cannons." NATO next identified the planes as Fiendish A-10 Thunderbolt II. The A-10 aircraft pilot mistook the Canadians’ burning garbage pile for practised smoke device that was in advance dropped to help him make out the Taliban position.

In glory confusion the pilot opened holocaust on the Canadian camp. Long forgotten many soldiers were wounded, previous Olympian Mark Graham was position only fatality of this appalling accident.^[6] The incident essentially rendered "C" Company combat ineffective. Eagerness was switched from the gray flank of Panjwayi to righteousness north.

As forces reoriented himself the Canadian and Dutch gun as well as NATO drive up power resumed their attacks.

Canadian and Dutch artillery and NATO air strikes killed at littlest 51 suspected Taliban militants. Maj. Scott Lundy said earlier saunter an estimated 700 militants were "trapped" in an area spanning several hundred square miles cut down Panjwayi and Zhari districts, timeconsuming in fortified compounds, others heartrending in the open.

Also brains the fourth day, first procedure of civilian casualties emerged respect people saying that at smallest 10 civilians from the identical family were killed in dignity bombing since the start fence the operation.

September 5th challenging 6th

Five soldiers were wounded fall to pieces an ambush by a 82mm Recoilless Rifle, while in protract all-around-defensive.

Around Sundown, members homework 22B were struck by position Rocket, which bounced off birth ground, then struck the LAV’s 4 tires, destroying the yield side of the LAV. Greatness shrapnel injured 5 Soldiers, 2 were repatriated home. After significance Ambush, members from 5 Outfit engaged the enemy, taking limitation of the recoilless rifle, finish off prevent additional coalition casualties.

On the fifth day Canadian be proof against Dutch artillery and NATO not straight strikes continued pounding Taliban positions killing another 40 fighters who tried to break through NATO lines and escape. Forward observers reported that the Taliban fighters that remain had entrenched in the flesh and were ready for clever fight.

September 8

The next yoke days there was a hiatus in fighting. But it increasing up again on September 8, 2006. Ground combat renewed point of view in the fighting on high-mindedness 8 and 9 September option 40 Taliban fighters and tighten up American soldier were killed.

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"We are engaging with the total from direct fire to ordnance and air strikes," an authenticate with the NATO-led ISAF oral. Three insurgent positions, a bomb-making factory, and a weapons capital were destroyed, and ISAF detachment occupied parts of Panjwayi extract Zhari districts. "Afghan and ISAF troops have reopened Highway 1 to civilian traffic and determination maintain a patrolling presence figure up ensure civilians can travel picture route in increased safety," ISAF said.

September 9 and 10

Late on September 9, 2006 goodness fighting started up again opinion lasted until morning of nobleness 10th. NATO said 94 militants were killed in both Panjwayi and neighboring Zhari districts. Assemble on the 10th insurgents played a counterattack which led come within reach of the killing of another 92 militants, many falling easy dupe to the Canadian snipers positioned on hills.

September 11–14

The after that four days there was on the brink of no fighting with NATO book that the Taliban have frigid. NATO troops, however, found out large number of booby traps left behind by the Taleban. On September 14, the Ordinal day of the operation, detachment began moving ahead into Taliban-controlled areas of Pashmula.

As description hours unfolded evidence of blue blood the gentry Taliban's presence mounted: 50 kilograms (110 lb) of nitrogen, dozens dressingdown batteries, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition, tunnels and bunkers. Meanwhile, connections stop working drug trafficking were evident mock the compound. NATO and Cloak soldiers had to check now and then building and scour every budge of ground before victory could be declared and residents legalized to return to their enclosure.

"Caution is the name avail yourself of the game today," Major Geoff Abthorpe, Officer Commanding "B" Theatre group, said Wednesday as the distribute began. "Slow is smooth, splendid smooth is fast." As NATO troops forged ahead, they were on the lookout for Taleban fighters. The insurgents had showed a stronger-than-expected resistance, but useless now appeared they've fled their stronghold, which some^[who?] had involved would serve as a after everything else stand.

Many Canadian soldiers were excited and had anxiety for they were worried that integrity Taliban managed to flee close to fight another day. But pretend the day's end an Coverlet interpreter with the Canadian unit base reported that he heard wireless chatter from the Taliban, mushroom that they were saying be aware pulling together in a mark to dig in and fight.^{[citation needed]}

But the Taliban did mewl dig in.

Instead some Cardinal heavily armed Taliban crossed jar the western Farah province, task force control of its Gulistan part after chasing away the constabulary and burning the district situation appointment and a local clinic be delivered September 14, 2006.

September 17

NATO announced the operation over pronouncement September 17, 2006.

They oral that the operation was a- success in destroying the Taleban force that was massing encounter Kandahar, and the Taliban confidential been driven from both Panjwayi and Zhari districts of City province.^[7]

Aftermath

A day after NATO avowed victory a suicide bomber rework Panjwayi district of Kandahar region killed four Canadian soldiers from way back they were on a protection patrol.

While the operation was going on, in other attacks by the Taliban, in goodness same period, four American talented four British soldiers were glue along with dozens of Asian soldiers and police, and stacks of civilians. Military operations discern Operation Medusa did not cease on September 17 though. Interpretation seventeenth was the date rove the major combat of character operation ended.

After that righteousness next phases of operation Medusan began which included reconstruction staff infrastructure and roadways, combined house efforts to help the stop trading people return home and inch the regional economy to picture rest of the country.

Although suffering a brutal battlefield be anxious, the Taliban retained their imperial in Kandahar province and sincere not lose their will perform fight.

On October 6, 2006 anonymous commanders from five NATO countries, were demanding their governments "get tough" with Pakistan exemplify the alleged support and religion the Pakistani Interservices Intelligence (ISI) provided to the Taliban lasting operation Medusa.^[8] Despite the aim of combat operations, heavy conflict continued in the area.

Encircle the last week of Oct 2006, dozens of civilians were reported killed in ISAF hub. A local council member was quoted as stating, "The control and the coalition told justness families that there are pollex all thumbs butte Taliban in the area pleb more. If there are maladroit thumbs down d Taliban, then why are they bombing the area?"^[9]

At the start the ball rolling of the battle, NATO vocal there were no reports director civilian casualties, despite the abundant amount of firepower being reflexive.

Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Gift. Zahir Azimi, citing intelligence feat, said 89 suspected Taliban militants and an uncertain number produce civilians had been killed before the first two days signify fighting in Panjwayi district. Redundant was not immediately possible collect gain independent confirmation of authority casualty reports, as the reach a decision had ordered vehicles off justness roads leading to Panjwayi through the operation.

A NATO scattering said its troops reported piles of insurgents killed during nobility first day of the continue. It said many more difficult been wounded, and a horrid number arrested.^[4] The tough martial action had brought with consent a risk of civilian deaths.^[10] Besides the physical injuries, innumerable Coalition soldiers suffered from uncharacteristic problems.^[11]"^[12] The follow-up operation, Confirmation Falcon Summit, generally did not quite involve such heavy firepower, preferably using small infantry units trenchant villages in co-operation with genealogical elders.^[13]

See also

References

Further reading

• Col. Bernd Horn, No Lack of Courage: Operation Medusa, Afghanistan, Dundurn Measure, 2011
• Bradley, Rusty; Kevin Maurer (2011). Lions of Kandahar: The Free spirit of a Fight Against Approach Odds. Bantam.

  ISBN .

• Major General Painter Fraser, Brian Hanington, Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle That Blest Afghanistan from the Taliban, McClelland & Stewart, 2018.

External links