Battle of Dahaneh

Battle of Dahaneh
Part of War in Afghanistan (2001-present)
Date August 12, 2009 - August 15, 2009 Location Dahaneh, Southern Afghanistan and surrounding areas Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
United States Afghanistan United Kingdom	Taliban insurgents
Strength
400 U.S. Marines 100 Afghan soldiers 1 British Harrier Jet	Unknown
Casualties and losses
1 killed (U.S.)	10-15 killed 5 captured

The Battle of Dahaneh is an ongoing battle in the town of Dahaneh and its surrounding areas as part of the War in Afghanistan. It began when U.S. and Afghan troops launched an Operation to take the town of Dahaneh, in the Helmand Province of Southern Afghanistan. The troops met heavy resistance from Taliban forces and belive they were tipped of about the attack. The Coalition has claimed that they have secured the town.

Background

Dahaneh is a town of about 2,000 people in Helmand Province, and serves as a major trading route through Northern Helmand, which is used by the Taliban to transport 60 percent of the worlds Opium. Coalition forces had not entered Dahaneh for years. When Helmand Province was under the control of the British, they never had enough men to deploy to Dahaneh, as they were busy in other areas. The Taliban had been in control of Dahaneh. They had maintained checkpoints throughout the town and levied taxes. However, the Taliban had threatened to ruin the August 20 Afghan elections, and Coalition commanders feared reprisals against citizens of the town, and hoped to establish a voting center in Daheneh before the elections began, which would be the only voting center in the region. Taking Dahaneh is also key to securing the Now Zad valley, where the Taliban conduct their Opium trade.

Battle

Day One

On August 12, 2009, 400 United States Marines and 100 Afghan National Army Soldiers began the Operation. An assault wave in Humvees and MRAPs left a Marine Base in the town of Naw Zad and headed for Dahaneh in the early morning. Three CH-53 Stallion helicopters airlifted behind Taliban lines in Dahaneh. The platoon then blasted its way into a suspected militant compound, where they arrested 5 fighters and took over the compound as a base. U.S. Marine Harrier jets also dropped flares as a show of force. Just before the morning light, Taliban fighters fired rockets at the Marines. A heavy rocket targeting the compound flew over it. Meanwhile Taliban fighters fired a mortar round at a Humvee on the town's outskirts, which landed 20 meters away. For the next eight hours, the Taliban fired off short bursts of fire at the Coalition troops. When troops tried to push into the town, Taliban fighters fired resisted with small arms, rocket propelled grenades, and mortars. Taliban fighters fired at the troops from rooftops and courtyards. Taliban fighters fired a heavy machine gun from one of the streets, further slowing progress. The Taliban also brought in a truck which fired heavy missiles at the U.S. and Afghan forces. Fighting subsided in the afternoon when the temperature reached 120 degrees farenheight. Coalition forces later began to launch patrols into the city. A Marine patrol was ambushed by the Taliban within yards of the Marine compound at 4 A.M. Heavy fighting resumed. Taliban RPG and Sniper fire targeted the Marine compound which by now also had Afghan troops, but there were no U.S. or Afghan casualties. Taliban fighters fired volleys of rockets from a walled compound at the Coalition forces, leading the Marines to call in a missile strike, which killed 7-10 militants inside. Taliban fighters also attempted to encircle the Coaltion troops. A convoy of Marines in Humvees and MNAP's sitting outside the town was attacked by Taliban mortar fire. Coalition forces attempted to push further into the town, but were met with heavy resistance from Taliban forces, and the Marines made only minor gains. Other Marine units battled Taliban fighters in the surrounding mountains. Taliban militants were firing off heavy weapons at the Marines from a cave in one of the mountains. Marines the cave and called in air support. A British Harrier Jet arrived and locked onto the position, but the pilot refused to fire as British rules of engagement state that the pilot must identify the target not just ground troops.

Day Two

August 13, troops began to push deeper into Dahaneh. The Taliban did not offer resistance until daybreak, as they were unable to match the night vision capabilities enjoyed by Coalition troops. However, when morning came, the first rounds of fire erupted. Throughout the day, Afghan soldiers and U.S. Marines pushed deeper into Dahaneh, meeting heavy resistance. By the end of the day, they had taken about half the town. Sporadic clashes continued. One U.S. Marine was killed in action during the second day of fighting after both of his legs were blown off by a Rocket-Propelled Grenade. A Dozen Taliban fighters were estimated to have been killed in the first 24 hours of fighting. Meanwhile, A-10 Fighter-Bombers and Surface to Surface Missiles targeted Taliban positions in the surrounding mountains. Officers have predicted that it will take several days of fierce fighting to secure Dahaneh.

Day Three

On the third day, Marines launched a pre-dawn raid against a Taliban position on the southern edge of the town, storming a fortified compound and then blowing up two towers from which insurgents fired rockets and mortars at U.S. troops the day before. Marines found marijuana plants growing in the courtyard and confiscated trigger plates used to manufacture roadside bombs. Sporadic clashes continued throughout the day as US missiles continued to target Taliban bunkers in the area. The Taliban had still not given up the fight in the other half of the town, although airstrikes and missiles continued to pound their defenses in the town.

The battle ends

By the Fourth day the battle had ended and coalition troops secured the town. The town had fallen after being under Taliban control for four years. Five days later the second direct Afghan national presidential elections took place and some residents of Dahaneh participated. However, the level of resistance met led many soldiers and commanders to suspect that the Taliban had been previously tipped off, and were waiting for them.

See also

• War in Afghanistan (2001-present)
• International Security Assistance Force
• Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

References

• http://www.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan
• http://www.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan