An Afghan boy stands near Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, after his father asked them for aid in treating his son's fever Feb. 17 in Marjah, Afghanistan. Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark

NATO and Afghan forces have made early progress in an ongoing offensive on a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan, but have encountered some stiff resistance and may need another 25 to 30 days to secure the entire area, a top military official said.

Overall the multinational force has reached the “end of the beginning” of the operation in central Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, said British Maj. Gen. Nick Patrick Carter, commander of NATO forces in International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command-South, during a briefing, Feb. 18.

“I guess it will take us another 25 to 30 days to be entirely sure that we have secured that which needs to be secured,” Carter told Pentagon reporters. “And we probably won’t know for about 120 days whether or not the population is entirely convinced by the degree of commitment that their government is showing to them.”

Despite dislocating the insurgency within 24 hours of landing in the region, Feb. 13, Carter said, fighting continues in Marja, which to date has claimed the lives of six allied troops, including four Americans. Some 15,000 NATO and Afghan forces are engaged in Operation Moshtarak, which in Pashto and Dari means “Operation Together,” including 8,000 to 10,000 ground troops.

“In Marja itself, there remains stiff resistance from the insurgence,” Carter said. “And U.S. Marines in partnership with Afghan security forces are still fighting [an] intense series of actions, in the process of clearing Marja as a whole.”

Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell predicted that insurgents remaining in the area were intent on seeing the fight through.

“It is not very coordinated, but there still are holdouts who have remained in Marja and elsewhere in Helmand who have stayed to fight,” he told reporters today, “and they’re clearly going to fight to the bitter end.”

Morrell added that IEDs, the military shorthand for makeshift bombs known as “improvised explosive devices,” mines and other explosives left in the wake fleeing Taliban pose a larger threat than residual enemy fighters.

In spite of the pace of operations being slowed by enemy bombs and explosives, military officials have expressed satisfaction at the rate of progress in the central Helmand operations, which represents the first test of President Barack Obama’s plan to add 30,000 more troops in the fight against Afghanistan-based insurgents.

Carter said Operation Moshtarak would likely represent the first wave in a series of operations in a push against insurgents further east towards Kandahar.

“I think, as a result of Moshtarak, is a sense of momentum that will sweep eastwards towards Kandahar during the course of the next six months,” he said. “And my sense is that … you will see the insurgent pushed eastwards in a way that will roll him out during the course of the next 12 months or so.”

In a rare glimpse at their playbook, U.S. and NATO military officials for months have remarked publicly on the strategic importance of the southern Afghanistan region and the goal to clear the area of Taliban fighters. The rationale for such a declaration of intent was to allow low-level Taliban fighters the chance to flee, and to warn civilians of the impending attack, officials said.

Marja, like other areas of Helmand, is a source of income for Taliban fighters, who cultivate poppy to yield opium and heroin for the lucrative drug market, according to reports. The U.S. State Department cites Afghanistan as the world’s largest producer of opium, and money from the drug trade is said to help in bankrolling terrorism.

DVIDS
By John J. Kruzel

Marines carry their gear out to Army helicopters prior to an air assault into Marja, Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2010. UH-60 Black Hawk CH-47F Chinook helicopters inserted nearly 300 Marines into the objective area. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Clute

When Operation Moshtarak kicked off here Feb. 13, Army helicopter crews from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade inserted nearly 300 Marines and Afghan security forces into Marja, Afghanistan, under cover of darkness.

UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47F Chinooks and AH-64 Apaches from Task Force Pegasus facilitated the air assault of Kilo Company, 3/6 Marines, in seizing their objective area.

“Protected by Apache air weapons teams, the Marines and their partnered Afghan security forces quickly began moving to their initial objective, seizing key terrain and preparing to link up with their parent headquarters scheduled to begin a ground assault into Marja,” said Army Col. Paul Bricker, 82nd CAB commander.

Shortly after the Marine insertion, additional Task Force Pegasus aviation assets assisted a coalition air assault into nearby objective areas in Nad Ali. Task Force Pegasus’s 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment — Task Force Wolfpack — was one of three helicopter units involved in the operation in support of the British Task Force Jaguar.

“Their air assault was equally effective in seizing key terrain in the city of Nad Ali, located adjacent and northeast of Marja,” Bricker said. “Their operation was even more complex, as it included over 20 rotary-wing aircraft from the U.S., Britain and Canada.”

Task Force Pegasus continues to provide support to operation Moshtarak, but the focus has turned from aerial security to medical evacuation. Casualty evacuation teams are standing by to transport wounded coalition and Afghan forces to appropriate field hospitals as necessary.

“[The CH-47F Chinook] has been specially configured with helicopter cabin litter support systems and manned with TF Pegasus surgeons and medics to conduct critical patient transfers from less-capable combat surgical wards within Helmand province to southern Afghanistan’s largest and most advanced hospital on Kandahar Air Base,” Bricker said.

The 82nd CAB has completed more than 120 air-assault operations throughout southern Afghanistan over the last 10 months in support of operations by the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan forces.

DoD
By Army Staff Sgt. Aubree Clute
Special to American Forces Press Service

Lance Cpls. Keith B. Lawson and Spence G. Press, scout snipers attached to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, work together to identify targets as Taliban fighters approached from Marjeh toward their position at the 'Five Points' intersection Feb. 9. Marines of Charlie Company conducted a helicopter-borne assault earlier that morning to seize the key intersection of roads linking the northern area of the insurgent stronghold of Marjeh with the rest of Helmand province. Lawson, 25, is from Reedly, Calif., and Press, 20, is from Newbury Park, Calif. Photo by Sgt. Brian Tuthill

1st Lt. Joseph Reney (US), Spokesperson / Public Affairs Officer, briefs the media on day four of Operation Moshtarak in the city of Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Operation Moshtarak

Video press release offered by Gov. Haji Zahir, elected district governor of Marjah. The governor addresses concerns regarding current operations in the city of Marjah and passes word directly from the president of Afghanistan that insurgents may lay down their weapons and join their government. Produced by Marine Cpl. Jennifer Calaway. Operation Moshtarak

Lindy Cameron, Head of Multi-National Provincial Reconstruction Team, talks with a CNN American Morning host about the plans to restore power to the Afghan government after the security operations are over. Operation Moshtarak. Video by Staff Sgt. Craig Rader

Soldiers from the Afghan national army relax after a patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14. The ANA soldiers and Marines from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, have been conducting Operation Moshtarak to eliminate Taliban presence and intimidation from the city of Marjah. (USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde)

NATO’s Operation Moshtarak site

ANA and Brits take Showal

The national flag of Afghanistan flew over the former Taleban “capital” of Showal yesterday, signaling the end to nearly two years of insurgent rule.

Shortly after dawn, a soldier of the Afghan National Army (ANA), climbed up a 60ft disused crane from which the white flag of the Taleban had flown – the colour is a symbol of their alleged Islamic purity.

Using a knife borrowed from a British soldier, Private Aziz Watandosd cut down the flag and threw it to the small gathering of troops below. He then raised the red, green and black national flag in its place to show that the government of Afghanistan now ruled Showal.

“When I took down the Taleban flag and raised our national flag, I knew it would be a proud and happy day for our people,” he said.

The Scotsman

The clearing phase of Operation Moshtarak in the center of Afghanistan’s Helmand province continued Feb. 14, with combined Afghan and international forces conducting a number of mounted and dismounted patrols, military officials reported.

Forces have been engaged in periodic small-arms firefights. A number of insurgents have been either killed or detained, officials said, and the combined force has suffered some injuries.

Three successful “shuras” were held with influential community members, and other meetings with Helmand residents also took place.

Afghan and International Security Assistance Force troops found improvised explosive devices and enemy weapons stockpiles. In Task Force Helmand, an engineer maneuver group is clearing mine fields and is building a bridge over the Nahr-e Baughra Canal.

The goal of Operation Moshtarak – a Dari word for “together” – is for combined forces and the Helmand provincial reconstruction team to support the Afghan government in asserting its authority in central Helmand and demonstrating its commitment to the people living there, officials said.

DoD

The clearing phase of operation Moshtarak continued yesterday. The combined force continues to face sporadic fire fights. The combined forces have incurred casualties.

A press conference held yesterday in Lashkar Gah included General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Minister of Defense; Mohammed Hanif Atmar, Minister of Interior; Mohammed Gulab Mangal, Governor of Helmand Province; Brigadier-General Sher Mohammad Zazai, ANA 205 Corps commander; and General Stanley McChrystal, ISAF commander.

Gen. Wardak said the objective of Operation Moshtarak is not to kill insurgents, but to provide security, governance and development for the people of Helmand. He called on insurgents to put down their weapons and join the reintegration process. He also said that sufficient security forces will remain following the clearing operation to provide an environment conducive to development.

During the press conference, Minister Atmar provided an update on the tragic incident that occurred Sunday. He indicated according to the initial report insurgents held civilians captive in a compound. The insurgents used this location to deliver accurate, direct fire at combined forces. Not knowing there were civilians present, the combined forces responded using a heavy weapon, resulting in a tragic loss of civilian lives. Minister Atmar said there was a meeting with people in the area and an apology has been made. The village elders voiced their support for the Afghan government.

Gov. Mangal said he appreciated the good coordination between the ANSF and ISAF troops during the operation. He said the government does not currently have control of three (Baghran, Washir and Deshow) out of the 13 districts in Helmand Province, indicating he was optimistic that the government soon would take charge in these areas. He also appealed to insurgents to join the peace process.

Indicating there is still resistance from insurgents in Marjah, Gen. Zazai expressed confidence they will soon be defeated. Local elders in Nad-e Ali have expressed their support for the Afghan government during shuras held in the area, he said.

Gen. McChrystal said the Afghan-led Operation Moshtarak has highlighted a special partnership of which he is very proud. He asked media to watch the bravery of the ANSF and coalition partners, stating he is himself exceptionally proud of how they have performed.

The goal of Moshtarak – Dari for “together” – is for the combined force (ANA, ANP, ISAF and the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team) to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in asserting its authority in central Helmand, thereby demonstrating the government’s commitment to the people living there.

The operation is being conducted at the request of the Afghan government and the governor of Helmand. The security forces involved are serving side-by-side, representing partnership in strength.

ISAF Joint Command – Afghanistan

Here is a summary of the action to date. Follow the links for more information.

Operation Moshtarak, the Afghan-led initiative to assert government authority in the center of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, completed its first day of clearing operations yesterday, military officials reported.

An early morning air insertion of Afghan and international forces before 6 a.m. included helicopters, A-10s, Tornadoes and C-130 aircraft. Afghan soldiers then had at least two meetings with local leaders, one in Nad-e Ali and one in Marja, to explain the operation and establish themselves on the ground. Discussions with local Afghans have been assessed as good, officials said, and more such meetings are anticipated in the coming days.

Early yesterday morning, Helmand Gov. Mangal and Afghan national army Brig. Gen. Zazai, 205th Atal Corps commander, addressed the media during a news conference in Lashkar Gah. In the evening, representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the U.N. World Food Program, the World Health Organization and local nongovernmental organizations reported that no increase has been observed in Afghans leaving Nad-e Ali as a result of the operation.

Afghan and International Security Assistance Force troops in both Nad-e Ali and Marja found a number of stockpiles of bomb-making equipment and weapons .

Today, February 14 2010, a combined Afghan-ISAF patrol found more than 500 pounds of ammonium nitrate and other bomb-making materials while clearing a compound in Marja. Acting on a tip from a local resident, another Afghan-ISAF force found about 300 yards of detonation cord wrapped in plastic in a canal, also in Helmand’s Garm Ser district.

Also today, a combined Afghan-ISAF patrol found two 155 mm artillery rounds, four pressure plates, blasting caps and batteries in Helmand’s Nad-e Ali district.

DVIDS

Operation Moshtarak, the Afghan-led initiative to assert government authority in the centre of Helmand province has completed its first day of “clearing” operations Feb. 13 2010.

The Feb. 13 air insertion over Central Helmand included helicopters, A-10s, Tornadoes and C-130 Hercules aircraft. The waves of aircraft-borne troop insertions of Afghan national army, United States and United Kingdom soldiers were completed by 5:55 a.m. local time.

Since then, at least two shuras have been held with local Afghans – one in Nad-e Ali and one in Marjah. The ANA have been meeting with local Afghans and establishing themselves on the ground.

Discussions with local Afghans have been assessed as good, and more shuras are anticipated in the coming days. [snip]

A number of IED-making equipment and weapons caches have been found by ANSF and ISAF troops in both Nad-e Ali and Marjah.

DVIDS

Navy hospital corpsmen of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, replace the field dressings of Azerha, a 4-year-old Afghan girl injured by a piece of shrapnel from an explosion near her home Feb. 10. Azerha's brother, Quassiam, brought her for medical treatment to the Marine encampment at the Five Points intersection, a key junction of roads between Marjeh and Nawa. Azerha was flown to a medical trauma facility and is expected to make a full recovery. Photo by Sgt. Brian Tuthill

Navy Corpsmen Save Injured Afghan Girl in Marjah

When a 4-year-old Afghan girl named Azerha was struck by shrapnel Feb. 10, her brother Quassiam did the only thing he could think of – approach a group of armed Marines miles away and ask for medical assistance.

He drove his sister east from near the city of Marjah toward an intersection known as “Five Points,” a key intersection of roads connecting northern Marjah with the eastern areas of Helmand province. Marines and Sailors of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, seized the Five Points area the day prior during a helicopter-borne assault.

Azerha had been struck in the chest by a fragment of metal from an improvised explosive device using 82 mm mortar rounds which detonated near her home. The wound had caused bleeding and breathing problems for Azerha by the time she arrived, Navy corpsman reported as they examined and began to stabilize her for a medical evacuation to a medical trauma facility.

“When the car came and I approached the vehicle, I saw the blood coming from her chest,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Eric E. Casasflores, 30, an independent duty corpsman assigned to Charlie Co., 1/3. “I could see there was a small wound where something had penetrated. Once we put the dressing on, she began having more trouble breathing and I determined we needed to medevac her.”

While waiting inside the walls of a farming compound for a helicopter to arrive, corpsmen treating Azerha found that her lung was beginning to collapse. Between the time her flight was scheduled to arrive and her worsening symptoms, Casasflores, the senior corpsman on scene, decided they had to act quickly to stabilize their patient.

“Her vitals began to drop while we were waiting for the medevac and we had to do a needle decompression,” said Casasflores, who was born in Lima, Peru, but calls Newark, N.J., home. “She wasn’t bleeding very badly, but with almost any trauma to the chest, you have to do a needle decompression [to allow the lung to expand again].”

“She took it extremely well for a small child,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam E. Neep, a field hospital corpsman with Weapons Company, 1/3. “For taking a big needle through her chest, she barely fussed.”

DVIDS

Cpl. Alton S. Floyd, a wrecker operator for Alpha Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, rests after working to build multiple makeshift bridges in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 11. During the construction of their last bridge, Alpha Company encountered an improvised explosive device, no Marines were injured. Floyd, 25, is from Atlanta, Ga. Photo by Lance Cpl. Walter Marino

Marine Engineers Survive Marjah Blast

Marines from Alpha Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, worked tirelessly from early morning to the mid-afternoon Feb. 11, building makeshift bridges over canals to provide a route for Marines and vehicles to enter the known Taliban stronghold of Marjah.

After completion of their last makeshift bridge, Marines had just boarded their vehicles, when suddenly a loud explosion erupted from behind one of their trucks.

Mud chunks fell from the sky like rain. But, no Marines were hurt. Fortunately, Alpha Company had boarded their vehicles moments before the blast.

“The blast made my heart jump. It was a reality check,” said Sgt. Jonathan J. Sanabria, a truck master for Alpha Company. “Everyone is real lucky.”

DVIDS