Uzbin valley ambush

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Uzbin valley ambush
partof=the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)


caption=Map of the districts of Kabul province of Afghanistan.
date=19 August 2008
place=Surobi District, Afghanistan
result= Indecisive.
combatant1= flagicon|France France,
flagicon|United States United States,
flagicon|Afghanistan Afghan National Army
combatant2= flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban Taliban insurgents
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=~100 initially, with another 400 reinforcements
strength2=~140 initially, with another 150 reinforcementscite news|first=Eric |last=de Lavarène| title=Taliban interview|url=http://www.parismatch.com/parismatch/dans-l-oeil-de-match/reportages/exclusif-paris-match-nos-journalistes-ont-retrouve-les-talibans-qui-ont-abattu-nos-dix-soldats/(gid)/49612|work= |publisher=Paris Match |date=2008-09-03 |accessdate=2008-09-03]
casualties1=France:
10 killed,
21 wounded
casualties2= 13-80 killed,
30 wounded (French and Afghan claims)cite news |first=Jason |last=Straziuso |coauthors=Shah, Amir |title= Afghan militants kill 10 French, strike at US base |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081901309.html |work= |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2008-08-20 |accessdate=2008-08-21 ] [http://www.valeursactuelles.com/public/valeurs-actuelles/html/fr/articles.php?article_id=3321#_] The Uzbin valley ambush was a military engagement between ISAF troops and Taliban forces in eastern Afghanistan. It took place in the Uzbin valley, near the village of "Sper Kunday", of the Surobi District of Kabul province on August 19, 2008, and resulted in heavy casualties to the French ISAF contingent.

ituation in Surobi

Until August 2008, Surobi district was under the responsibility of 140 Italian troops, who had undertaken development projects for the local population, as part of ISAF's "comprehensive approach" strategy. The district was presented by NATO as a showcase success of establishing security, and was considered a quiet sector. However certain officials recognized that there were still pockets of insurgents in remote areas such as the Uzbin valley. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SAROBI: A MODEL OF AFGHAN DEVELOPMENT BECOMES BLOODY BATTLEGROUND |url=http://www.adetocqueville.com/200808201107.m7kb70h26678.htm |work= |publisher=The Tocqueville connection |date=2008-08-20 |accessdate=2008-08-21 ] Taliban militants and forces loyal to warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar are known to be active in the district.

In August, French troops took over from the Italian force, as part of French president Nicolas Sarkozy's initiative to increase France's commitment to the war in Afghanistan.

The ambush

On August 19, an ISAF column left FOB Tora in Surobi in order to reconnoiter the Uzbin valley. It was composed of some 100 troops, mostly French, accompanied by elements of the Afghan National Army and some U.S. Special Forces in charge of coordinating air supportcite news |first=Jean-Dominique |last=Merchet |coauthors=Perrin, Jean-Pierre |title=Afghanistan: après l'émotion, les questions |url=http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/societe/346872.FR.php |work= |publisher=Libération |date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2008-08-22 ] .

The column was led by the platoon "Carmin 2" from the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, riding in four VAB personnel carriers. As the platoon approached a mountain pass at an altitude of 2000 metres, after passing "Sper Kunday", the road ended forcing the paratoopers to dismount and advance on foot along a small path toward the pass. [cite news |first=Jean |last=Guisnel |title=Première chronologie de l'embuscade des soldats tués en Afghanistan fr icon|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-monde/premiere-chronologie-de-l-embuscade-des-soldats-tues-en/1648/0/268290 |publisher=Le Point |date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2008-09-05

]

Approximately 50 metres before the top the platoon was attacked by a force of about 50 insurgents. In the early moments of the attack, the squad leader's deputy, the radio operator and the Afghan interpreter were killed, and the unit became disorganized, as the paratroopers took cover. Another group of approximately 50 militants then attacked the main column from the south ridge and from the village, hitting one VAB with an RPG, and killing a Foreign legionnaire who was tending the wounded [http://www.legion-2rep.com/modules/info_seul.php?id=18] . The Taliban claimed to have around 140 fighters at the beginning of the ambush.

The firefight began at 15:30, but it was a full hour before reinforcements arrived from Surobi and air support could be called in, in the form of US A-10 and F-15 aircraft. However, the F-15s were unable to engage due to the proximity of Taliban and friendly troops. During this time, the Taliban also received reinforcements, bringing their force to about 200 men. The French force lost nine killed and 18 wounded during the first four hours of the engagement, after which the fighting died down, but continued sporadically until 2:30 in the morning, as Kiowa helicopters and AC-130 gunships attacked the Taliban. The next morning, as the French troops were returning to their base, a tenth soldier was killed and two others were injured after the road collapsed under their VAB. [cite news |first=Jean-Dominique |last=Merchet |title=Afghanistan: le récit de l'embuscade |url=http://secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr/defense/2008/08/afghanistan-le.html |publisher=Libération |date=19/08/2008 |accessdate=2008-08-22 ]

The French casualties were from the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment and the Régiment de marche du Tchad. Their losses were the most significant for the French Army since the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing which killed 58 soldiers, and the greatest single loss for ISAF in two years. [cite news |first=Jerome |last=Starkey |title=War in Afghanistan: The battle of Surobi |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/war-in-afghanistan-the-battle-of-surobi-902902.html |publisher=The Independent |date= 2008-08-20 |accessdate=2008-08-21]

Taliban claimed to be aware of the patrol, and prepared the ambush in advance by caching weapons in the mountain and organizing their fighters. There were also reports of French troops being captured and executed, which were denied by the French army.

Timeline

13h15 Platoon "Carmin 2" dismounted at "Sper Kunday" and advanced on foot. [cite web
url=http://www.defense.gouv.fr/ema/enjeux_defense/operations_exterieures/afghanistan/breves/intervention_du_general_puga_sur_le_deroulement_des_combats_des_18_et_19_aout_en_afghanistan_transcription_integrale |title=Intervention du général Puga sur le déroulement des combats des 18 et 19 août en Afghanistanfr icon |accessdate=2008-09-05 |date=2008-08-28 |work=Press release |publisher=Ministry of Defence (France)]

15h45 Just before lead element reached the top, the Taliban, on the north ridge, opened heavy fire. Eight minutes later the Taliban attacked the main column and pinned it down near the village. Another Taliban group appeared on the south ridge of the valley and took the French troops under cross fire.

16h10 Platoon leader called in air support, A-10s arrived 10 minutes later, but didn't shoot due to the proximity of friendly forces. At the same time the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) left FOB Tora for "Sper Kunday". "Rouge 4" and ANA sections tried to maneuver around the village but were pinned down by Taliban fire.

17h05 The QRF arrived at "Sper Kunday" under heavy fire, and began suppressive fire with LLR 81mm mortars, MILAN missiles and 20mm auto-canon, to disengage "Carmin 2", "Rouge 4" and ANA sections.

17h50 The Taliban were closing on ISAF positions under heavy crossfire, so A-10s attacked the insurgent's positions with US helicopters for over an hour.

19h30 Dusk allowed a few "Carmin 2" elements to disengage and reach the village, but they were nearly surrounded.

20h00 Reinforcements, nearly a company of the RMT, arrived from Kabul by road with heavy mortars, the wounded began to be evacuated. A predator UAV guided artillery shelling by night. A few "Carmin 2" elements continue to reach the village.

22h00 The RMT arrived from Kabul and began to retake the area around the village. Two hours later the village area was under control, firing stopped in "Sper Kunday". The RMT began to retake the slopes.

01h40 The last wounded from "Carmin 2" were found and evacuated. During night time Norwegian special forces helped to locate and evacuated dead people. [Seret Defence Blog, US TACP NATO report, http://secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr/defense/2008/09/exclusif-lle-ra.html] Dawn, ISAF troops now controlled the pass, but the Taliban used mortar shelling to cover their retreat. They were silenced by counter-battery fire and air support.

12h00 The Taliban fled, leaving the Uzbin valley under control of the coalition forces, who proceeded to disengage from the area.

Reactions

Upon receiving news of the attack, Nicolas Sarkozy immediately travelled to Kabul to speak to the French soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. He reasserted his commitment to pursuing the war against the Taliban. [cite news |first= |last= |title=Sarkozy has no regrets after Afghan deaths |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sarkozy-has-no-regrets-after-afghan-deaths-903238.html |publisher=The Independent |date= 2008-08-20 |accessdate=2008-08-21] The soldiers who were killed in the ambush were posthumously made knights of the Légion d'honneur. [cite news |first= |last= |title= Sarkozy pays tribute to soldiers |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7574334.stm |publisher=BBC |date= 2008-08-21 |accessdate=2008-08-22]

On September 29, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar claimed responsability for the attack, and declared that ten of his men had been killed in the fighting. [cite news |title=Afghan warlord Hekmatyar claims French ambush: report
url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080929/wl_afp/afghanistanunrestfrancenato
publisher=Yahoo! News |date=2008-09-29 |accessdate=2008-10-04 ]

References

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