A dozer pushes dirt to create a 13-foot-tall berm around Patrol Base Lakari, Oct. 2. The base was built approximately one mile from Lakari Bazaar, a market known for Taliban activity. Photo by Sgt. Scott Whittington

Since the first raid on Lakari Bazaar in mid July which turned up thousands of pounds of drugs and bomb-making materials, the Taliban has continued to use the market as a staging area for illegal activity – launching more than 20 attacks against coalition troops in the immediate vicinity from there.

To stop this, more than 300 British troops conducted a second raid in the early morning hours of Sept. 30, seizing caches of weapons and killing several insurgents after receiving enemy fire. To ensure the Taliban didn’t return to their illegal activity, Marines from Company D, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Combat Logistics Battalion 8 constructed a patrol base less than a mile from the bazaar. Afghan national army soldiers and Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, will occupy the new base to disrupt Taliban activity in the area.

“The base will give [2/8 Marines] an opportunity to project their influence on the Lakari market,” said platoon commander 2nd Lt. Mark H. Tetzel, Company D, 1st CEB.

The engineer Marines arrived here 18 hours after leaving Forward Operating Base Delhi, more than 40 kilometers away, and went to work immediately under the 2 a.m. moonlight. This patrol base, 90 miles from Pakistan’s border, is the southern-most base controlled by Regimental Combat Team 3.

“It’s all about survivability,” said Cpl. Joshua M. Firth, heavy equipment operator, 1st CEB. “The bigger the berm, the safer the Marines are on the inside, essentially. They won’t have to worry about direct fire.”

A 13-foot dirt berm was pushed up around an already-existing wall in the new compound, and an outer, shorter berm was constructed outside the larger one to make standoff room. According to Tetzel, this gives another layer of protection from threats such as vehicle-born IEDs.

Inside the compound, engineers using head lamps pounded away with hammers in the darkness, driving nails into prefabricated guard towers, a shower, a hygiene area and field-expedient burnout toilets. Marines from 8th Engineer Support Battalion were responsible for the creating pre-made structures and a group of them were attached to CLB-8. They frequently accompany the CEB Marines on their builds.

“This is CLB-8′s third time to come out with us,” said Tetzel, a former corporal and University of Akron graduate. “Those guys are awesome and won’t stop until the job is done.”

Throughout the engineers’ deployment, they’ve built four observation posts, seven combat outposts of various sizes, and three patrol bases in Helmand province.

Building these posts and bases in the middle of towns and open desert takes a lot of moving parts. This build alone used the efforts of several units. Two Combined Anti-Armor Teams and Marines from 1st CEB’s Route Clearance Platoon lead the 37-vehicle engineer convoy from FOB Delhi, on the lookout for enemy ambushes and IEDs. At the convoy’s tail, 60 Afghan national army troops in vehicles provided security from anyone trying to sneak up behind. Those attached units provided security for the engineers to, at and from the construction site.

“Security is important because it allows the Marines to build the best product they can without worrying about what’s behind them,” said Staff Sgt. Randy C. Jaekel, motor transportation chief, 1st CEB and a Lincoln, Mo., native.

It took the engineers almost 60 nonstop hours to complete the build. With the project completed, the Co. E Marines moved into their new digs with the intent on eradicating the Taliban in the area and giving the local Afghans freedom to shop and run their businesses in safe market.

“We come in, build it and leave,” said Tetzel. “We want to give 2/8 a good product.

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. Scott Whittington

Afghan and International security forces killed and detained groups of suspected militants in four separate search operations conducted Oct. 6 and 7, in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

A joint security force killed and detained several suspected militants in Saydabad district, Wardak province today, after searching a compound known to be used by a Taliban group believed responsible for improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan civilians and regional infrastructure.

During the search the joint security force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing several enemy militants. The joint force also found a suicide vest and destroyed it in place.

On Oct. 6, a joint security force killed and detained suspected militants in Kabul province during an operation to disrupt a Taliban element responsible for improvised explosive device placement and attacks on joint forces in southeast Afghanistan. Acting on reports indicating the presence of a known Taliban commander, the joint force searched a location near Niknazar Kalay in Shinkay district.

During the search enemy militants armed with rifles attempted to move against the joint force. The joint force received hostile fire from enemy militants and responded with small arms fire killing them. A search of the suspected militants revealed multiple AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, which were destroyed in place.

In another operation today a joint security force detained several suspected militants south of Marjeh in Helmand province. The joint force searched a compound known to be used by a Taliban commander and his element believed to be responsible for transporting weapons to other militant elements and for several small arms and suicide attacks against Afghan civilians and infrastructure in the region. The force uncovered 115 pounds of black tar heroin and destroyed all of it in place.

In a fourth operation a joint security force captured two wanted Taliban militants Oct. 6 in the Tere Zayi district of Khowst province where enemy fighters had created a safe-haven. The suspected Taliban militants were wanted for conducting illegal activities including coordinating attacks against joint security forces and for facilitating the distribution of weapons and narcotics.

During this operation the joint security force searched a number of compounds known to be used by militants and Taliban leaders who are believed to be responsible for roadside bomb attacks against Afghan National Security Forces in the area. Several suspected militants were detained for questioning.

A supply of AK-47 rifles, ammunition and magazines was found during the search and destroyed.

No Afghan civilians were harmed during these operations.

No ISAF service members were killed over the past 24 hours.

ISAF

News Release #732 is referred to in this note, and other press releases on the ISAF site. It is, however, not posted at that site. Our story on the battle can be found here.

A more detailed battlefield assessment following the Oct. 3 attack in Nuristan has determined that enemy forces suffered more than 100 dead during the well-coordinated defense — significantly higher losses than originally thought.

Additionally, ISAF now believes that while the attack was conducted by local anti-Afghan forces, while local Taliban and elements of Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HiG) may have helped facilitate the attack.

The group responsible for conducting the attack was initially reported as “Nuristani tribal militia.”

Note to Editors: This is an update to ISAF News Release #732, released Oct. 4

ISAF

Via Blackfive, here’s a news report from a daring reporter who went to the battle.

These troops are likely from the 4 BCT, 4 Infantry Division, out of Fort Hood.

Two joint International Security Assistance Force and Afghan national security forces outposts were attacked in the Nuristan province of eastern Afghanistan Saturday morning (October 3 2009).

Nuristani tribal militia launched the attacks from a local mosque and nearby village.

Coalition forces effectively repelled the attack and inflicted heavy enemy casualties while eight ISAF and two ANSF service members were killed.

“My heart goes out to the families of those we have lost and to their fellow Soldiers who remained to finish this fight,” said Col. Randy George, commander of Task Force Mountain Warrior. “This was a complex attack in a difficult area. Both the U.S. and Afghan Soldiers fought bravely together; I am extremely proud of their professionalism and bravery.”

Names will be withheld pending next of kin notification.

Coalition forces’ previously announced plans to depart the area as part of a broader realignment to protect larger population centers remain unchanged.

The sources of the conflict in the area involve complex tribal, religious and economic dynamics. Coalition forces will continue to assist in matching local resources with ANSF to bolster security and partner with local communities on development assistance if requested.

DVIDS

Times of London

Map

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CBS News

The Afghan National Army’s 1st and 6th Kandaks, ANA Commandos and U.S. Special Operations Forces conducted an operation to clear insurgents from Shewan City, Farah province, early Monday – September 28 2009.

More than 500 Afghan and coalition forces participated in the operation which killed a large number of insurgents. Heavy fighting occurred over more than 12 hours. The combined force received rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire; the force responded with munitions including small arms, and machine gun fire as well as air strikes. No ANA or coalition force members were killed.

“This is a great day for Afghanistan and a great day for Farah province,” said Col. Namatulah, ANA 1st Kandak commander. “Today we fought alongside coalition forces like brothers. Main roads that go through this city will not be under Taliban control. Safe roads are good for everyone, military and civilian.”

“We want peace in Shewan and all of Afghanistan,” said Sgt. Deen, a 1st Kandak squadron leader. “Me and my men came from Herat to give people here the same opportunities people have there. All Afghans are entitled to peace.”

ISAF