America's North Shore Journal

Afghan National Army and ISAF troops from British 45 Commando Group Royal Marines took the Taliban by surprise in the Upper Sangin Valley in Operation GHARTSE PALANG, or ‘Lion’. The joint operation, from 19 – 21 January, extended security into new areas by pushing into territory that previously provided enemy forces with the freedom of movement to launch attacks. In addition, a huge cache of weapons, Improvised Explosive Devices and components used to make the deadly devices were seized.

Leaving in the early hours of the morning to deliberately catch the enemy off guard, the joint force of around 150 ANA and Royal Marines moved through the rural area in challenging conditions, searching and clearing compounds as they went.

The ANA proved vital to the operation, interacting with the local population and explaining the purpose for the searches. Their ability to win the consent of the local people helped to further the influence of the legitimate Afghan government and security forces.

Accompanying the patrol were members of the Military Stabilisation and Support Team, military personnel who gather information and assess the needs of the local population in order to inform the Provincial Reconstruction Team, assisting with the reconstruction and development of the area.

The patrol continued, systematically clearing compounds whilst ensuring minimal disturbance of the local people. The deeper the troops went into their objective area the more they began to uncover. Caches were discovered yielding rifles and handguns, magazines and ammunition, grenades, RPGs, shells and fuses.

The speed of the assault of the joint ANSF and ISAF forces led to the surprise capture of what is believed to have been a Taliban command post and, in a nearby compound, an IED workshop. In addition to a quantity of home-made explosives and components for making IEDs, two complete IEDs, ready for deployment, were seized and made safe. During the operation insurgent forces attempted to attack but were defeated by the accurate and heavy fire from the ISAF forces, causing heavy enemy losses.

Having successfully cleared a wide area and denying the enemy a substantial quantity of potentially deadly weapons, the Marines returned to Forward Operation Base INKERMAN confident that their successful operation had further extended security in the Upper Sangin Valley.

Major Richard Parvin, 45 Commando Group RM, summarised the operation:

“Overall the Marines and Army ranks of Yankee Company Group performed superbly, acting with professionalism and determination whilst respecting local cultural sensitivities throughout. The operation was a great success with a significant haul of weapons and ammunition removed from Taliban hands, contributing greatly to our mission of improving security in the town of Sangin.”

Task Force Helmand Commander, Brigadier Gordon Messenger, 3 Commando Brigade, stressed that whilst a success, this operation was just an example of the normal day-to-day routine of ISAF Forces:

“The successes today are not unusual and are a result of our highly effective, routine patrol pattern. Day in, day out, our troops are on the ground, working with the local population and focused on getting inside the enemy’s mind, disrupting him where he least expects it and denying him the freedom of movement that he seeks.”

ISAF