Battle of Chora

Battle of Chora
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Dutch army PzH 2000 firing on Taliban in Chora. June 16, 2007. Photo by David Axe.
Date June 15, 2007 - June 19, 2007 Location Orūzgān Province, Afghanistan Result Tactical Coalition victory.
Belligerents
Netherlands, Afghan National Army, United States, Australia	Taliban insurgents
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Hans van Griensven , Lieutenant-Colonel Rob Querido	Mullah Mutalib † , Mullah Ismael †
Strength
500+ Dutch soldiers	500-1,500
Casualties and losses
2 killed (Dutch), 1 killed (US)	71 killed
65 civilians killed

The Battle of Chora took place in and around the town of Chora (3,000 inhabitants), in Orūzgān Province, between June 15 and June 19, 2007. It was a battle between ISAF and Afghan forces on one side and Taliban forces on the other for the control of the Chora District which is regarded by the Taliban as a highly strategic area. This battle has proved to be the biggest Taliban offensive of the year in Afghanistan, and resulted in the death of more than 100 people in just three days.

Prelude

The Oruzgan province, a Taliban stronghold, was secured by 1,400 Dutch soldiers, 100 Australian soldiers and Afghan forces. Because the area is far too large to control for only 1,500 soldiers, the Dutch had set up checkpoints, which were manned by local Afghan forces, around villages in the area.

Some of these checkpoints were near the strategic town of Chora. There were 100 Afghan police in Chora.

As part of winning the-hearts-and-minds the Dutch troops were working in Chora on projects such as a school, a mosque and a bridge. 60 Dutch troops were deployed in Chora.

A few days before the attack, many Taliban fighters gathered in the mountains around Chora, unnoticed by Coalition and Afghan troops.

The battle

On Friday evening June 15 some shooting took place near Chora.. On the same day a Dutch convoy in Tarin Kowt, ten miles from Kamp Holland, was attacked by a suicide bomber, killing one soldier.

On Saturday morning June 16 three Afghan police posts (Kala Kala, Nyazi and Sarab) on the edge of Chora were attacked simultaneously by 500 Taliban fighters, some sources say even 1,500. Dutch troops deployed in Chora and locals came to the aid of the Afghan police posts. Apparently to decrease morale, the Taliban executed the two brothers of the commander of the Sarab police post. The same day the Dutch and Afghan forces were pushed out of the checkpoints and were forced into the center of the town.

The Dutch troops assembled near the white district building and at 19:25 contacted Colonel Hans van Griensven in Tarin Kowt for a decision whether to retreat to Kamp Holland. Without consulting ISAF or The Hague Griensven decided the troops would stay. In the evening some Dutch reinforcements led by Lieutenant-Colonel Rob Querido arrived at Chora. Meanwhile Australian Special Forces were deployed as a shield between Baluchi Valley and Mirabad.

Also on Saturday June 16 US Staff Sergeant Roy P. Lewsader was killed when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Tarin Kowt.

On Sunday June 17 and Monday June 18 more Dutch reinforcements arrived from Kamp Holland and Deh Rahwod thus increasing the number of Dutch troops at Chora to 500.

As the balance of the battle changed, Taliban militants, who had gained control of most of the residential areas forced civilians to fight with them or face execution. Taliban militants also used civilian homes as shelter, but were still bombed by NATO aircraft, causing many civilian casualties. As the battle continued, Taliban forces sustained heavy casualties by airstrikes and in gunfights.

At one time all six Dutch F16's were in the air attacking ground targets assigned by the infantry.

In the night of Sunday June 17 to Monday June 18 during the loading of an 81-mm mortar the shell exploded inside the launch tube, killing the Dutch Sergeant-Major Jos Leunissen and wounding three other soldiers.

On June 18, the Taliban forces retreated and fled in the mountains, leaving the city heavily damaged but in the hands of ISAF.

On Tuesday morning June 19 the Dutch and Afghan troops made a big push. The checkpoints were recaptured and back in Afghan control.

External links

• Associated Press (Monday, June 18, 2007). "Over 100 Militants, Civilians and Police Killed In Massive Afghan Battle". www.foxnews.com. Retrieved 2007-07-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)

• %5b%5b:Template:Nl%5d%5d "'Chora-crisis' zet hele missie in Uruzgan onder druk". www.nrc.nl (NRC). June 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-04. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)