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1 The Long War Journal: Coalition forces strike at the Taliban in southern Afghanistan

Written by Bill Roggio on August 18, 2010 1:39 PM to 1 The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/08/coalition_forces_str.php

Map of Afghanistan's provinces. Click map to view larger image.

Afghan and Coalition forces have stepped up operations against the Taliban in the southern Afghan provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, killing and capturing dozens of leaders and foot soldiers during raids.

Over the past week, Afghan commandos and Coalition special operations teams have killed or captured four Taliban commanders, killed at least 24 Taliban fighters, and detained an undisclosed number during raids against leaders, IED cells, and a Taliban prison in the strategic provinces.

The largest clash took place on Aug. 17 in Helmand in the northern district of Musa Qala, where US Marines recently took control of the district from British forces. Thirteen Taliban fighters were killed during a raid on a "a makeshift prison compound" that was run by a commander in the neighboring district of Sangin, another Taliban stronghold in Kandahar. The combined force freed 27 civilians who were being held by the Taliban.

The second largest clash took place in the district of Panjwai, a Taliban stronghold just outside of Kandahar City. Security forces killed 10 Taliban fighters while targeting "a Taliban commander responsible for arranging weapons deliveries and settling allocation disputes."

A Taliban commander named Aqua was killed the same day during "a precision air strike" in the district of Arghandab in Kandahar. Aqua "planned and coordinated" roadside bomb attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan and Coalition forces, and also "facilitated the transportation of weapons and military material for his fighters."

Also, yesterday, Coalition and Afghan forces killed one Taliban fighter and detained several more in Lashkar Gah in Helmand while targeting a Taliban commander who "profits from the trafficking of weapons, money, equipment and improvised explosive device components for a Pakistani-based network." The commander, who was not captured, operates in the district of Maiwand in Kandahar.

And on Aug. 17, security forces detained several Taliban fighters during a raid that targeted "a senior Taliban commander and member of the Nawa Military Commission" in the district of Nawa in Helmand. The raid was part of the "continued pursuit" of the commander, who "is responsible for decisions involving military operations and matters of governance within the Taliban-controlled areas of Nawah-ye Barakzai district."

Three other Taliban commanders were captured over the past week. On Aug. 11, ISAF confirmed the capture of the district leader of Nawa during a raid in Marja. On Aug. 15, security forces captured "a key Taliban weapons distributor" for fighters operating in the provincial capital of Kandahar, along with an undisclosed number of fighters, during a raid in the district of Daman. On Aug. 14, security forces captured two Taliban fighters, including a commander who "provided guidance and direction to Taliban fighters conducting improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes against Afghan civilians and Afghan and coalition forces," during a raid in Panjwai.

Background on operations in the Afghan south

Over the past several months, US and Afghan special operations forces have been conducting raids against the Taliban's top leaders and operatives in Kandahar and Helmand while attempting to wrest control of the provinces from the Taliban. More than 150 mid- and senior-level Taliban commanders have been killed during a series of special operations raids in the south over the past five months.

Coalition and Afghan forces had success in targeting the Taliban's top leaders in Kandahar earlier this summer. Key Taliban commanders recently killed in the province include Haji Agha, the Taliban's military commander for the Panjwai, Dand, and Zhari districts in Kandahar; Mullah Zergay, the Taliban's leader for Kandahar City and the districts of Zhari and Arghandab; and Izzatullah, the Taliban's military commander for Panjwai.

The US has placed great importance on the need to secure Kandahar, which is considered the ideological and spiritual home of the Taliban. Two Army brigades have surged into Kandahar, while the US Marines have surged a brigade into Helmand over the past year. Helmand, with its vast poppy crops, is considered the economic heartland of the Taliban.

Coalition forces are also placing great emphasis on restoring governance in the south and winning over the population, which has been largely sympathetic or supportive of the Taliban. But a Department of Defense survey of the situation in key districts in Afghanistan paints a grim picture of public support for the government in the south. In Kandahar and Helmand, the two provinces considered to be the key to the Taliban's power in the south, the majority of the population is considered to be ambivalent toward the Afghan government and the Coalition, or sympathetic to or supportive of the Taliban.

Of the 11 of Kandahar's 13 districts assessed earlier this year, one district (Kandahar City) supported the government, three districts were considered neutral, six were sympathetic to the Taliban, and one supported the Taliban. Of the 11 of Helmand's 13 districts assessed, eight of the districts were considered neutral, one was sympathetic to the Taliban, and two supported the Taliban.

The Taliban, under a directive issued by Mullah Omar, have responded to the Coalition and Afghan offensive in the south with a campaign of violence and intimidation. Taliban fighters have been directed to "capture and kill any Afghan who is supporting and/or working for coalition forces or the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," as well as "any Afghan women who are helping or providing information to coalition forces."

Dozens of political and tribal leaders have been assassinated in Kandahar City and the surrounding areas over the past five months.

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