Taliban bases fall after major offensive

The Times ^ | January 4, 2009 | Michael Smith

[Mercia]

A month-long operation by British, Afghan and coalition forces saw fierce close-quarter combat.

WHEN Lance-Corporal Ben Whatley was killed on Christmas Eve, he was leading his Royal Marines from the front as they fought close up with the Taliban. His family in Norfolk had put Christmas festivities on hold, expecting him home in early January.

It has now emerged that the clash in which Whatley died – a helicopter-borne assault on the village of Chah-e Anjir — was the climax of a month-long operation in Helmand province involving 1,500 British, Afghan and coalition troops.

The offensive, described in detail this weekend by those who took part, claimed the lives of five servicemen and wounded many others. It was one of the biggest operations mounted by Britain’s forces since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Operation Sond Chara – Pashto for Red Dagger – was named after the Royal Marine commandos’ shoulder badge.

[Mercia]

Full article well worth reading.

[Mercia]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/template/2.0-0/element/pictureGalleryPopup.jsp?id=5438976&&offset=0&&sectionName=UK

Pictures of the operation

[Eagles6]

Good writing for the times.

[Chgogal]

BTTT

Our Ally in Arms in action. Must read and view!

[Straight Vermonter]

Thanks for the ping.

[Clive]

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[alfa6]

Thanks for the post Mercia, thanks for the ping Clive.

To the family of Lance-Corporal Ben Whatley my sympathies.

Deepest Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Marine_Uncle]

The Taliban are getting their teeth kicked out each time the attempt to go against the NATO forces. The L/MSM continue to make it look like Afghanistan is not going well. But they fail to see or admit that one reason there are more NATO KIA is because our forces open up new bridge heads against the goons.
New areas are cleared of Taliban and AQA/AQP on a weekly basis. And more often it appears the goons are not welcomed back into tribal areas once they are kicked out or killed off.