Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – AfghanistanStory by Sgt. Jenie Fisher
photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse Awalt#####
WARDAK, Afghanistan – Commandos with the 1st, 2nd, and 6th Special Operations Kandaks, partnered with coalition forces, killed more than 40 insurgents in Chak district during a week-long clearing operation ending Oct. 5.
The operation was planned and executed by the Afghan commandos in eastern Afghanistan implementing a bubble of security throughout an area known to be an insurgent safe-haven, thus providing a foundation for governance and development.
Coalition leaders recognize these missions help to create and further expand the security bubble in Chak. As Afghan and coalition forces create more and more “white space,” the area becomes increasingly inhospitable to the insurgents. As similar security bubbles throughout Afghanistan expand, they force the insurgents out and connect local, district and national government across the country.
“The operation created a massive disruption to the insurgents in Chak Valley,” said Special Operations Task Force East commander Lt. Col. Christopher J. Fox. “Once the insurgents are cleared of the area, they can no longer intimidate or attack the civilians of the small communities willing to be a part of a legitimate Afghan government.”
Throughout the week, commandos and coalition forces swept known insurgent hideouts throughout the valley, forcing them out to face a unified front of Afghan National Security Forces and their coalition partners. More than 40 insurgent fighters were killed and 12 others were wounded. Afghan and coalition forces now have a solid foothold in Chak Valley where they will move forward with village stability operations.
The overall goal of village stability operations is to permanently shape an area to support local governance. The village stability operations process is a bottom-up, population-centric form of combat that normally requires months to achieve.
As the summer fighting season slows down, many foreign insurgents move back to Pakistan for the winter months, while ANSF and coalition forces work overtime to solidify security in rural areas where governance and development can take root. Officials say that operations of this magnitude paralyze insurgent activity, jump start village stability operations in rural areas and help to substantiate the Afghan government’s potential to flourish after coalition forces transition out of Afghanistan.
“This operation proves the great strides ANSF are making in their ability to protect the Afghan people from the intimidation tactics and physical attacks by the insurgents,” Fox said in closing.
Washington Time
Kabul Time
London Time
0 comments:
Post a Comment