Posted on 07/24/2007 4:50:29 PM PDT by HAL9000
US forces battled an entrenched Taliban unit in the village of Shaban, located in the heart of Afghanistan’s number one poppy producing state, Helmand province. The clash began on Sunday when a US patrol was attacked by a suicide car bomber and an ensuing ambush by militants who were dug into several mud walled compounds. The patrol initially used small arms fire to repulse the ambush, according to a statement released by US forces.As the firefight quickly escalated, US war planes were called in to bomb the Taliban positions. The mud walled compounds were subsequently blown apart by a series of Coalition air strikes. Taliban reinforcements were quickly called in by the remaining fighters spread throughout the destroyed village center.
The Taliban reinforcements who came from outside of Shaban were also attacked from aircraft by a total of 4 separate 500 lb. bombs, according to the statement. At least 24 reinforcements were killed as a result of these bombs.
A separate statement indicates the next day ANA troops dug through the rubble and extracted the bodies of more dead Taliban fighters, citing the grand total as 48 dead Taliban. There has been no mention of ANA or Coalition casualties during the Musa Qala battle, but 4 US troops were killed in a separate incident in eastern Afghanistan after their vehicle struck a landmine. A fifth soldier sustained serious wounds during that same attack. A Norweigan soldier also died from wounds sustained during an attack in Logar province and a seventh Coalition died elesewhere although no details were provided regarding that incident.
According to an estimate by the AP, 114 Coalition soldiers have died in Afghanistan so far this year. Hundreds of Taliban fighters including 40 commanders have also been killed this year as well as over 300 civilians in separate incidents spread across the county.
The village of Shaban is located in the notorious Musa Qala district of Helmand which was overrun by militants earlier this year. Despite losing two top military commanders running the takeover, the Taliban have remained in firm control of the district. Although President Hamid Karzai and Defense Minister Wardak talked tough on resting the district back militarily, no action by the ANA or ISAF regarding the captured district has occurred.
Afgha.com has covered the Musa Qala dilemma for some time. Our previous report can be read by clicking here. The latet report on Musa Qala by IRIN can be viewed here.
BTTT
ping
Another successful battle. God bless them all. And the families of those killed in the land mine explosion.
A victory. Well done. BTTT
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