Battle Operation Medusa

1 battle

1.1 september 2, 2006
1.2 september 4 , 5
1.3 september 6
1.4 september 8
1.5 september 9 , 10
1.6 september 11–14
1.7 september 17

battle

september 2, 2006

nato said on september 3, 2006 previous day, afghan , nato forces killed more 200 suspected taliban fighters in major operation in southern afghanistan. 4 canadian soldiers killed , 9 others wounded in fighting. further statement alliance said:

“reports indicate more 200 taliban fighters have been killed since operation medusa began morning on september 2, 2006. figure arrived @ reviewing information isaf surveillance , reconnaissance assets operating in panjwaye , zhari districts, information reported various afghan officials , citizens living nearby,”

more 80 suspected taliban fighters captured afghan police , further 180 insurgents seen fleeing district, statement said.

the air-offensive commenced on september 2 while ground forces positioned in pincer, north , south of panjwayi district. air attacks led killing, in first 2 days, of around 200 taliban fighters , arrest of 80. while supporting operation british nimrod mr2 reconnaissance aircraft crashed, killing 14 on board. represented largest single fatal incident involving british troops in afghanistan. uk ministry of defence believed crash not result of hostile action.

stronger expected resistance put taliban forces, whom nato expected retreat. instead, prepared decisive engagement, deciding take advantage of defensively advantageous ground of district, , laid traps coming nato troops. nato troops objective was, basically, capture grouping of villages known pashmul, had been site of repeated battles throughout summer of 2006 , several canadian soldiers killed on august 3.

an odd decision made @ rc(s) changed tone of battle. charles company of 1 rcr battle group positioned feint in south while bombing went on. 3 days ahead of schedule c company ordered cross arghandab river , move pashmul. enemy resistance severe. several canadian vehicles lost , 4 canadian soldiers killed , 9 wounded in intense fighting. explosions echoed across grape , pomegranate fields , clouds of dust rose amid greenery , dried-mud houses of panjwayi district, 12 miles (19 km) kandahar city.

after operation medusa started, authorities in kandahar warned people not travel off main highway in province, leads panjwayi. road blocked soldiers–not far bombing taking place. military humvees parked nearby. observers reported 180 taliban fighters managed escape district.

september 4 , 5

on september 4 there friendly fire incident. u.s. warplanes mistakenly strafed charles company, preparing once again attack pashmul. a-10 killed 1 soldier , wounded @ least 30, 5 of whom wounded. nato said friendly fire incident happened after ground troops battling taliban militants requested air support. 2 usaf aircraft provided support regrettably engaged friendly forces during strafing run, using cannons, nato said in statement. nato later identified planes a-10 thunderbolt ii. friendly fire incident rendered c company combat ineffective. emphasis switched southern flank of panjwayi north–which claim had been original plan. forces reoriented canadian , dutch artillery nato air power resumed attacks.

canadian , dutch artillery , nato air strikes killed @ least 51 suspected taliban militants. maj. scott lundy said earlier estimated 700 militants trapped in area spanning several hundred square miles in panjwayi , zhari districts, in fortified compounds, others moving in open. on fourth day, first reports of civilian casualties emerged people saying @ least 10 civilians same family killed in bombing since start of operation.

september 6

on fifth day canadian , dutch artillery , nato air strikes continued pounding taliban positions killing 40 fighters tried break through nato lines , escape. forward observers reported taliban fighters remain had entrenched , ready fight. 5 soldiers wounded in mortar attack on canadian patrol.

september 8

the next 2 days there lull in fighting. flared again on september 8, 2006. ground combat renewed , in fighting on 8 , 9 september 40 taliban fighters , 1 american soldier killed. engaging direct fire artillery , air strikes, official nato-led isaf said. 3 insurgent positions, bomb-making factory, , weapons cache destroyed, , isaf troops occupied parts of panjwayi , zhari districts. afghan , isaf troops have reopened highway 1 civilian traffic , maintain patrolling presence ensure civilians can travel route in increased safety, isaf said.

september 9 , 10

late on september 9, 2006 fighting started again , lasted until morning of 10th. nato said 94 militants killed in both panjwayi , neighboring zhari districts. late on 10th insurgents staged counterattack led killing of 92 militants, many falling easy prey crack canadian snipers positioned on hills.

september 11–14

the next 4 days there virtually no fighting nato reporting taliban have fled. nato troops, however, found large number of booby traps left behind taliban. on september 14, 11th day of operation, troops began moving ahead taliban-controlled areas of pashmula. hours unfolded evidence of taliban s presence mounted: 50 kilograms (110 lb) of nitrogen, dozens of batteries, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition, tunnels , bunkers. meanwhile, connections drug trafficking evident @ compound. nato , afghan soldiers had check every building , scour every inch of ground before victory declared , residents allowed return homes. caution name of game today, major geoff abthorpe, oc of bravo coy, said wednesday day began. slow smooth, , smooth fast. nato troops forged ahead, on lookout taliban fighters. insurgents had showed stronger-than-expected resistance, appeared ve fled stronghold, had suspected serve last stand. many canadian soldiers excited , had anxiety because worried taliban managed flee fight day. @ day s end afghan interpreter canadian troops reported heard radio chatter taliban, , saying pulling in spot dig in , fight.

but taliban did not dig in. instead 400 heavily armed taliban crossed western farah province, taking control of gulistan district after chasing away police , burning district headquarters , local clinic on september 14, 2006.

september 17

nato announced operation on over september 17, 2006. said operation success in destroying taliban force massing near kandahar, , taliban had been driven both panjwayi , zhari districts of kandahar province.