Battle of Musa Qala: Difference between revisions
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The '''Battle of Musa Qala''' is a military clash in [[Helmand Province]], southern [[Afghanistan]], launched by the [[Afghan National Army]] and the [[International Security Assistance Force]] against [[Taliban]] insurgents. Begun on [[December 7]], [[2007]], the battle is on-going; fierce fighting is expected for days.<ref name=Guard/> Military manoeuvres and build-up had carried on for weeks prior to the assault.<ref name=Khaleej>{{cite web |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/December/subcontinent_December285.xml§ion=subcontinent&col= |title=NATO soldier killed in Musa Qala operation: Afghanistan |accessdate=2007-12-09 |date=December 8, 2007 |publisher=[[Khaleej Times]] }}</ref> It is the first [[United Kingdom|British]] battle in the war in Afghanistan in which Afghan units are the principal fighting force. According to one British commander, Afghan units intend to "pour into the town and hold it from Taliban militants."<ref name=CTV>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071209/musa_qala_071209/20071209?hub=TopStories |title=Coalition troops advance on Taliban-held town |accessdate=2007-12-09 |date=December 9, 2007 |publisher=[[CTV]] }}</ref> |
The '''Battle of Musa Qala''' is a military clash in [[Helmand Province]], southern [[Afghanistan]], launched by the [[Afghan National Army]] and the [[International Security Assistance Force]] against [[Taliban]] insurgents. Begun on [[December 7]], [[2007]], the battle is on-going; fierce fighting is expected for days.<ref name=Guard/> Military manoeuvres and build-up had carried on for weeks prior to the assault.<ref name=Khaleej>{{cite web |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/December/subcontinent_December285.xml§ion=subcontinent&col= |title=NATO soldier killed in Musa Qala operation: Afghanistan |accessdate=2007-12-09 |date=December 8, 2007 |publisher=[[Khaleej Times]] }}</ref> It is the first [[United Kingdom|British]] battle in the war in Afghanistan in which Afghan units are the principal fighting force. According to one British commander, Afghan units intend to "pour into the town and hold it from Taliban militants."<ref name=CTV>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071209/musa_qala_071209/20071209?hub=TopStories |title=Coalition troops advance on Taliban-held town |accessdate=2007-12-09 |date=December 9, 2007 |publisher=[[CTV]] }}</ref> |
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== Background == |
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[[Musa Qala]] is a town of 2,000 people; much of it has been destroyed in previous fighting.<ref name=BBC06>{{cite web |first=Mick|last=Smith|url= http://timesonline.typepad.com/mick_smith/2006/10/message_to_the_.html|title=http://timesonline.typepad.com/mick_smith/2006/10/message_to_the_.html |accessdate=2007-12-09 |title=Message to the Politicians: Let the Soldiers Get on with their Job!|date=October 1, 2006 |publisher=[[The Times]] }}</ref> British forces had been in occupation of the area up until October 2006. In a controversial move, control was ceded to local tribal elders in conjunction with the Taliban.<ref name=Standard>{{cite web |first=Bill|last=Roggio |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/12/the_battle_for_musa_qala_has_b.asp |title=The Battle for Musa Qala Has Begun|accessdate=2007-12-09 |date=December 7, 2007 |publisher=[[Weekly Standard]] }}</ref> The deal was intended to see neither British forces nor Taliban in the town in an effort to reduce conflict. At the time, a British officer noted: "There is an obvious danger that the Taliban could make the deal and then renege on it."<ref name=BBC06/> The [[Taliban]] did renege, over-running the town in February 2007. They went on to establish a drug trade and a headquarters. It is the only significant town held by the Taliban and is at the centre of a major [[opium poppy]] growing area.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7134973.stm |title=Fighting rages for Taleban town |accessdate=2007-12-09 |date=December 9, 2007 |publisher=[[BBC News]] }}</ref> |
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Two thousand militants are reported to be holding the town.<ref name=Guard/> This is similar to the 2,050 "fully armed fighters" reported by the town's Taliban commander, Mullah Abdullah, in late November; at the time, he seemed confident that all of Helmand province would fall to the Taliban in the winter of 2007-08.<ref name=ISN>{{cite web |first=Aziz Ahmad |last=Tassal|url=http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18412 |title=Musa Qala: The shape of things to come |accessdate=2007-12-09 |date=November 29, 2007 |publisher=[[International Relations and Security Network]]}}</ref> |
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== '''this is all stupid. no one cares.''' == |
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== The Battle == |
== The Battle == |
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Revision as of 18:45, 9 December 2007
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
| Battle of Musa Qala | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} Afghan National Army, International Security Assistance Force |
.svg){kind=small} Taliban insurgents | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Bismillah Khan |
Mullah Omar | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 4,500 ISAF and Afghan National Army forces.[1] | 2,000[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
1 British soldier killed 1 ISAF wounded | 12 Taliban fighters killed | ||||||
| 2 children killed | |||||||
The Battle of Musa Qala is a military clash in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, launched by the Afghan National Army and the International Security Assistance Force against Taliban insurgents. Begun on December 7, 2007, the battle is on-going; fierce fighting is expected for days.[1] Military manoeuvres and build-up had carried on for weeks prior to the assault.[2] It is the first British battle in the war in Afghanistan in which Afghan units are the principal fighting force. According to one British commander, Afghan units intend to "pour into the town and hold it from Taliban militants."[3]
Background
Musa Qala is a town of 2,000 people; much of it has been destroyed in previous fighting.[4] British forces had been in occupation of the area up until October 2006. In a controversial move, control was ceded to local tribal elders in conjunction with the Taliban.[5] The deal was intended to see neither British forces nor Taliban in the town in an effort to reduce conflict. At the time, a British officer noted: "There is an obvious danger that the Taliban could make the deal and then renege on it."[4] The Taliban did renege, over-running the town in February 2007. They went on to establish a drug trade and a headquarters. It is the only significant town held by the Taliban and is at the centre of a major opium poppy growing area.[6]
Two thousand militants are reported to be holding the town.[1] This is similar to the 2,050 "fully armed fighters" reported by the town's Taliban commander, Mullah Abdullah, in late November; at the time, he seemed confident that all of Helmand province would fall to the Taliban in the winter of 2007-08.[7]
The Battle
On December 8, ISAF and Afghan troops mounted a three-way attack, with US forces launching an air assault via helicopters. British and Afghan ground forces, attacking from the south, west, and east of the town exchanged intense gunfire with the Taliban on December 8.[6] That day, the Afghan defence ministry reported: "In this operation so far, 12 terrorists were killed, one captured and a number of weapons and ammunitions were seized."[2]
As of December 9, the Taliban have withdrawn to take up new position to defend the town. The BBC reports that, while many Taliban may flee a final assault, others will stand their ground to seek martyrdom, particularly foreign fighters.[6] Taliban sources have suggested that militants from nearby areas are entering the town to reinforce its defence.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d "Fierce battle rages for Taliban stronghold". The Guardian. December 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ a b "NATO soldier killed in Musa Qala operation: Afghanistan". Khaleej Times. December 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ a b "Coalition troops advance on Taliban-held town". CTV. December 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ a b Smith, Mick (October 1, 2006). "Message to the Politicians: Let the Soldiers Get on with their Job!". The Times. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ Roggio, Bill (December 7, 2007). "The Battle for Musa Qala Has Begun". Weekly Standard. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ a b c "Fighting rages for Taleban town". BBC News. December 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ Tassal, Aziz Ahmad (November 29, 2007). "Musa Qala: The shape of things to come". International Relations and Security Network. Retrieved 2007-12-09.