Posted on 07/16/2006 3:17:50 AM PDT by familyop
SANGIN, Afghanistan, July 15 (UPI) -- More than 300 British troops, supported by U.S. and Canadian forces, have retaken a Taliban stronghold in Sangin, Afghanistan, military officials say.
The British paratroopers stormed the stronghold in a predawn attack, about 100 miles northwest of Kandahar, after U.S. troops from the 10th Mountain Division provided a block at the south end of the town of Sangin and Canadian forces did the same at the north end, Britain's Sky News reported Saturday.
Ten Taliban fighters were killed in the battle, coalition spokesman Maj. Scott Lundy said Saturday, with coalition forces suffering no casualties.
A number of weapons caches were found in the raid and will be destroyed, Sky News said.
Sangin has been "a hotbed of Taliban activity" and is probably the most violent part of Helmand Province, the network said.
The operation was the culmination of a months-old operation called Mountain Thrust, designed to quell the heaviest pockets of insurgency in four Afghan provinces. The insurgents are reported to be a mix of Taliban fighters and warring tribal groups that are heavily involved in the province's lucrative opium trade.
bttt
This puts the lie to the notion that we already killed all of the stupid ones. If you are a bad guy, facing a coalition of the most dominant conventional military forces on the planet, why are you going to establish a stronghold or otherwise gather in large numbers and make yourself an easy and irresistable target?
As always, good work by the Brits in eliminating these sub-humans.
Sweet. A true "combined operation". See people what just a little coop..work along..get along produces. Enemy refuse.
Lets hear it for the ANGLOS! Go Brits - Go Canucks - Go Yanks!
The insurgents are reported to be a mix of Taliban fighters and warring tribal groups that are heavily involved in the province's lucrative opium trade.
Follow the money. The biggest future problem in Afghanistan is deveoping an economy that is not opium dependent. Getting these people into arts and crafts will not be easy.
Go 10th Mountain!
Good Job!!
I think part of the coalition's plan may be to vary their level of control over various areas in order to tempt the enemy into becoming bold enough to gather as they did.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.