Angoor Ada raid

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Angoor Ada raid
partof=Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan
place=Angoor Ada, South Waziristan, FATA, Pakistan
date=September 3, 2008
result=United States/NATO victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=45 U.S. soldiers
strength2=Approximately 120-130 fighters
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=Unknown
casualties3=Estimated 20 people killed, civilian number unclear [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090300523.html?hpid=moreheadlines U.S. Troops Crossed Border, Pakistan Says 20 Locals Reported Killed in Assault] Washington Post, September 4, 2008.]
campaign=

The Angoor Ada raid (Urdu:صفف ﮑﹻﺨﺄ) was a covert raid conducted by U.S. Army Special Forces against Taliban fighters on September 3, 2008, within the border town of Angoor Ada in South Waziristan. It was the first time U.S. troops fought a ground-based battle against the Taliban within Pakistani borders. The raid took place at the same time as Pakistani military forces ended a four-week offensive in Bajaur, the northernmost Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of which South Waziristan is the southernmost, an offensive that has displaced approximately half a million people. [cite news |first= Syed Saleem |last= Shahzad |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= A sting in Pakistan's al-Qaeda mission |url= http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JI04Df04.html |work= Asia Times Online |publisher= |date= 2008-09-03 |accessdate=2008-09-04 ]

Operations

The raid occurred in the village of Moosi Neka (ﺙﻅﹿﺏ ﻑی) of the Angoor Ada region of South Waziristan, Pakistan, less than one mile (1.6 km) from the border of Afghanistan. The operation was executed at 3:00 AM local time (23h00 in UTC). [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/asia/04attack.html?em American Forces Attack Militants on Pakistani Soil] ] Though the U.S. has performed missile strikes in Pakistan before, this is reportedly the first time U.S. troops have taken ground action within the country against Taliban fighters.cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=5718172&page=2|title=U.S. Conducts First Raid on Terrorists in Pakistan|publisher=ABC|accessdate=2008-09-04|date=2008-09-03] According to some early reports, roughly twenty people, possibly including three women and four children, [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/03/content_9765868.htm Pakistan strongly condemns cross-border killing by coalition forces] ] were killed in the raid. [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C09%5C04%5Cstory_4-9-2008_pg1_3 Suspected US commandos kill 20 in S Waziristan raid] ] However, it is not clear whether these were civilians or combatants; an American official stated that the women killed were helping the hostile militants.

Three Black Hawk helicopters carrying 45 U.S. special forces soldiers conducted the raid. Only one of the helicopters landed and unloaded, while the two others flew overhead providing surveillance and aerial support to the other team. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/asia/04attack.html?pagewanted=2&em American Forces Attack Militants on Pakistani Soil (p. 2)] ] Two F-16 fighter jets also provided air cover. [http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17008 Nato forces enter Pakistan] ] The forces attacked three houses, owned by "Faujan Wazir, Faiz Mohammad and Nazar Jan Wazir." The entire operation lasted 30 minutes. All of the inhabitants were apparently asleep when the raid occurred, and after examination none of the dead proved to be "important terrorists or high-value targets." [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/04/asia/AS-Pakistan.php Zardari says fighting terror is Pakistani priority] ] A U.S. military official stated that "a small number of militants [were] captured and several others killed," but refused to comment on exact numbers. [ [http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5718172&page=1 U.S. Conducts First Raid on Terrorists in Pakistan] ]

Response

A statement made by the Government of Pakistan said that "a strong protest by [the] Foreign Office has been lodged with [the] Government of United States," and "such acts of aggression do not serve the common cause of fighting terrorism and militancy in the area." [ [http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51444&Itemid=2 ISAF troops kill seven innocent civilians in NWA: ISPR] ] On September 4, the Pakistani parliament passed a resolution condemning the raid and demanding increased American oversight and cooperation with Pakistani officials when conducting covert operations. [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-fg-uspakistan5-2008sep05,0,860194.story U.S. may step up raids in Pakistan (Los Angeles Times)] ] Anne Patterson, the United States Ambassador to Pakistan, was called to the Pakistan Foreign Office, where a protest was lodged. [ [http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/04/top2.htm Protest lodged with U.S. ambassador] ] In response to the raid, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the National Assembly on Thursday, "There is no high-value target or known terrorist among the dead ... Only innocent civilians, including women and children, have been targeted." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7597529.stm Pakistan fury over 'US assault' (BBC)] ]

In response to the raid, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, "I don't have anything for you on Pakistan, except to say that obviously we are working very closely with the civilian government there." Rice refused to comment on the possibility of civilian casualties. Reuters cited U.S. Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, who confirmed that the raid was conducted by U.S. special operations forces. [ [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cc5e2f06-7ae1-11dd-adbe-000077b07658.html Pakistan vows to defend its frontiers after deadly US raid (FT)] ]

The Chairman of the Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), Gen Tariq Majid, stated that "Pakistan reserves right to retaliate". [ [http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/06/top5.htm Pakistan reserves right to retaliate: Gen Tariq (DAWN)] ]

On Saturday, September 6, 2008, Pakistan blocked a fuel route supplying U.S. and other western forces operating in Afghanistan in response to the raid. "We have told them that we will take action and we have already taken action today. We have stopped the supply of oil and this will tell how serious we are," said Pakistani Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar. [ [http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-35346520080906 Pakistan blocks fuel supply route to Western forces (Reuters)] ]

ee also

* War in North-West Pakistan
* War on Terrorism

References