British forces in Afghanistan have destroyed a key Taliban base in the latest stage of a campaign to control access to the troubled Helmand province. More than 250 British troops supported by local Afghan soldiers wiped out three large compounds around the town of Garmsir late on Saturday night, the Army announced today. The compounds were linked by a network of trenches and underground tunnels used to shelter Taliban fighters.The Garmsir district, which lies near the porous Pakistani border, is a major conduit for opium smuggling and Taliban reinforcements gathering for an expected spring offensive. Two British soldiers have been killed trying to take control of the unstable area in recent months.
Operation Glacier 4 began with a series of air and artillery strikes on the base on Saturday night. Troops from Z Company, 45 Commando, then mounted a ground attack to clear the compounds, while a reconnaissance force made up of I Company, Royal Marines, and C Squadron, Light Dragoons, held off Taliban reinforcements.
There were no British or Afghan Army casualties. The Taliban were said to have suffered casualties, although commanders said that it was not possible to say how many.
| Still counting the bits |
Major Jules Wilson, who co-ordinated the operation, described Garmsir as "the Taliban gateway to Helmand". "In effect large groups of the enemy are now fixed south of Garmsir, ensuring important re-development within the rest of the province can continue," he said.
He said that the British troops had been surprised at how extensive the Taliban's defensive complex was, with 40 metre long trenches, a metre wide and more than 2 metres deep with a network of firing points and cover positions.
"The area is littered with Taliban prepared positions; it's almost like a First World War battlefield in appearance," he said.
Commanders said that the operation marked the first time British-trained, Afghan artillery batteries had been used in support of British troops.
| Jest send in your Chief an' surrender -- it's worse if you fights or you runs: You may hide in the caves, they'll be only your graves, but you can't get away from the guns! |