Jan 30, 2003
Source: Zafir Jamaal, Jihad Unspun Staff Reporter
A fierce battle is still underway between Mujahideen and Coalition forces in Afghanistan. In the largest engagement since Anaconda, fighting broke out early Monday morning in the area between the district of Spin Boldak in Kandahar Province and the district of Aghar in the Zabul Province known as Aday, Mauroof, Loay Karez and Sheni Dand in a joint operation between Taliban, Al-Qaida and Gulbadin Hekmatyar Hizb-e-Islami. Thirty two are reported dead including 12 Americans and 18 Afghan soldiers, as well as 20 others injured. Four Mujahideen were also martyred during this battle.
Early Tuesday, Americans were informed by an informant in Spin Boldak about a large concentration of 80 Mujahideen in Adday area. Without taking the local administration into confidence, American military independently dispatched 120 soldiers and helicopters to the area where waiting Mujahideen surrounded them from three directions. These soldiers were heavily shelled with Kalashnikovs, rocket launchers, 82 mm small cannons and heavy machine guns and 12 American soldiers were killed in the shelling. When Apache helicopters went to verify the information, they were fired upon and one US chopper was downed killing two. Air support was called in, including Norwegian F-16 fighters, US B1 bombers and a US AC-130 gunship, which pounded the area with cannon fire, nineteen 2,000- and two 500-pound bombs.
The Mujahideen were lead by former Taliban commander Hafiz Rahim and Hizb-e-Islami Hikmatyar’s commander Abdul Majid, while the Americans were helped by governor Kandahar province’s men. According to VOA, American military spokesman in Bagram Roger King said that in the last 9 months this is the most severe and the longest battle fought after operation Anaconda. BBC’s correspondent Mir Vais, an Afghan reporter from Boldak that Americans sustained casualties and injuries during this battle and that one helicopter was also affected however there has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon and none are expected.
The Governor of Kandahar’s spokesman Khalid Pushtoon also told BBC that their men were also killed in the battle and that this resistance is being fought by Taliban’s commander Hafiz Abdul Rahim. BBC, VOA and other media services have reported this to be the most dangerous battle as far as the American’s are concerned. In its commentary, BBC said that such a large concentration of Mujahideen and military resistance where both a surprise and a danger to Coalition forces.
Khalid Pushtoon accused the Mujahideen of receiving aid from the border areas and consequently dozens of planes patrolled the air throughout Tuesday evening. The bombing was also heard from several Pakistani border areas. The informant is said to be a supporter of Taliban and Mujahideen and he informed the Americans on advice of Mujahideen. While some sources have also reported that the Americans arrested this man on suspicion and that he informed the Americans of Mujahideen’s location to secure his own release. Whatever the reasons may be, for the first time since the battle of Shahi Kot the Americans are enduring a significant defeat and disgrace in Kandahar.
Karzai’s military commander, Abdul Aziz, has confirmed the American deaths and also claimed that the Taliban leader Hafiz Abdul Rahim was also martyred during the battle. That information has not yet been confirmed. Kandahar provincial security chief General Akram said 60 “Taliban or Al-Qaida” fighters were involved. Speaking by telephone from Kandahar, Akram said the brother of a senior Taliban commander, Abdur Rahim, had been captured. He added that “the number of casualties makes it the largest engagement since operation Anaconda.”
Asked how long the operation might last, US Military spokesman Roger King said: “I would be very, very hesitant to put a deadline on this. There is a lot of ground to cover. It’s a relatively large area…It is rough terrain, it could take a considerable period of time.”
The battle continues at the time of this filing and more details are to come as they are available.
Islam News and Pakistan’s Daily Times also contributed to this report.
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US Media have this uncanny habit to minimizing their own casualties and amplifying that of their enemies. So in this case 18 “rebels” have been killed Vs none on their side. During the Operation Anaconda they declared 400 “Al Quaeda” dead Vs 2 of their own. But later they could not count more than 11 of the “rebel” bodies … and piled up more than 18 of their own in Jacobabad and Ramstein for “controlled release” to their bereived families.
Americans are acting very stingy in Afghanistan. They think they can actually buy militias for $ 100 / month to protect their rear ends!!!?. When you buy people, there is always the higher bidder on such a “profitable” border.
Now that the valiant “Soldier of GOD” is getting ready for action - the Americans are in for a rather “Romantic” Afghan spring.