- Operation Pickaxe-Handle
-
Operation Pickaxe-Handle Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) 
Airstrike in Sangin, April 10, 2007.Date May 30 – June 14, 2007 Location Helmand province, Afghanistan Result Tactical Coalition victory;
strategic outcome unclear.Belligerents 
United Kingdom,
Canada,
United States,
Estonia,
Denmark,
Norway,
Afghan National Army
Taliban insurgentsCommanders and leaders Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page Tor Jan,
Haji Nika[1]Strength ~1,000 (United Kingdom),
? (Canada),
? (United States),
? (Estonia),
? (Denmark),
~150 (Norway),
500 (ANA)
Total:~2,000~1,000 Casualties and losses 3 killed, 24 wounded (UK)[2],
1 killed (Canada),
7 killed (US)~150+ (British estimates)[3] Lejay · Eagle Fury · Lashkar Gah · Mountain Thrust · Sangin · Mountain Fury · Now Zad · Achilles · Musa Qala I · Volcano · Kryptonite · Silver · Pickaxe-Handle · Hammer · Nasrat · Musa Qala II · Garmsir · Eagle's Summit · Red Dagger · Shahi Tandar · Diesel · Mar Lewe · Panther's Claw · Strike of the Sword · Dahaneh · Cobra's Anger · Moshtarak · Tor Shezada
Timeline
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Battles and operationsCrescent Wind · Rhino · Mazari Sharif · Kunduz · Herat · Kabul · Tawin Kowt · Shawali Kowt · Sayyd Alma Kalay · Qala-i-Jangi · Kandahar · Tora Bora
Lejay · Eagle Fury · Lashkar Gah · Mountain Thrust · Sangin · Mountain Fury · Now Zad · Achilles · Musa Qala I · Volcano · Kryptonite · Silver · Pickaxe-Handle · Hammer · Nasrat · Musa Qala II · Garmsir · Eagle's Summit · Red Dagger · Shahi Tandar · Diesel · Mar Lewe · Panther's Claw · Strike of the Sword · Dahaneh · Cobra's Anger · Moshtarak · Tor Shezada
Medusa · Avalanche · Kaika · Panjwaii · Falcon Summit · Hoover · Luger · Kamin · Shah Wali Kot · 1st Kandahar · Spin Boldak · Sarposa Prison · Arghandab · Wech Baghtu · 2nd Kandahar · Nadahan wedding bombing · Kandahar
1st Kabul · Hotel Serena · 1st Indian Embassy · Uzbin · Feb 2009 Kabul raid · 2nd Indian Embassy · Bakhtar guest house · NATO headquarters · Jan 2010 Kabul raid · Feb 2010 Kabul raid · May 2010 Kabul bombing · NATO convoy
Kunduz airstrike · Oqab · Chora · Firebase Anaconda · Shewan · Balamorghab · Derapet ·
Airstrikes
Hyderabad · Sayyd Alma Kalay · Gora Prai · Azizabad · Granai · Deh Bala · Sangin · UruzganInsurgent attacks
Bagram Air Base · Baghlan · Camp ChapmanOperation Lastay Kulang or Pickaxe Handle was a British-led NATO offensive in the southern Helmand province of Afghanistan. (The name of the operation is Pashto for "pickaxe-handle".) Lastay Kulang began on May 30 and ended on June 14, 2007, with 2000 ISAF and Afghan National Army troops taking part. The mission was a direct follow-up of Operation Achilles that ended on the same day.
At around 4:00 local time on May 30, 2007, ISAF and ANSF personnel advanced towards the village of Kajaki Sofle, ten kilometres south-west of the town of Kajaki, to remove a Taliban force whose presence threatened the security and stability of the Lower Sangin Valley. During the night, elements of the American 82nd Airborne Division mounted an aerial assault on a Taliban compound. One of the Chinook helicopters taking part in the raid was apparently hit by an RPG round and crashed, killing five Americans, a Briton and a Canadian on board.[4]
By June 2, NATO claimed to have surrounded several pockets of Taliban fighters. [5]
The Royal Engineers have also started several reconstruction projects in the area, such as digging irrigation ditches, to try to win over local support.
On June 5, a gun battle and air strikes killed an estimated two dozen Taliban fighters in Southern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan government reported.
Upwards of 80 Taliban fighters may have drowned in two separate incidents in early June, when the makeshift boats they were travelling on sank as they attempted to cross the Helmand River. The sinkings were witnessed by NATO helicopters.[6]
A British soldier was killed in a firefight at a Taliban compound to the north east of Gereshk on June 6. [7]
Another NATO soldier was killed in the south of the country that same day.
On June 8, a battle and air strikes in southern Afghanistan left 30 suspected Taliban dead or wounded, the Ministry of Defense reported.
Outcome
The outcome of "Lastay Kulang" is disputed. NATO spokepersons claimed the operation was a success, having cleared Sangin and Gereshk of Taliban and securing the Kajaki District. A new governor has been installed in Sangin and Shuras (councils) of tribal elders have been organised to hear their concerns. Conversely, the Taliban claim that they still control much of Kajaki, and some of the Sangin districts. These claims are confirmed by the local residents, who complain that the Taliban returned as soon as NATO and ANA troops had left, and that the security situation has not improved at all.[8]
See also
- British forces casualties in Afghanistan since 2001
- International Security Assistance Force
- War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- Provincial reconstruction team
References
- ^ "Our forgotten war". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/.+2007-06-03. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/02/wafg02.xml&page=2. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ^ Harding, Thomas (2007-06-06). "Afghanistan approaching 'all-out war'". www.telegraph.co.uk/. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/05/wafghan105.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
- ^ Harding, Thomas (2007-06-06). "Afghanistan approaching 'all-out war'". www.telegraph.co.uk/. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/05/wafghan105.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ^ "UK-led operation helps ISAF take control in northern Helmand (VIDEO)". http://www.mod.uk/.+2007-06-31. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/UkledOperationHelpsIsafTakeControlInNorthernHelmandvideo.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ^ "Taliban feel the pressure in northern Helmand". http://www.mod.uk/.+2007-06-02. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/TalibanFeelThePressureInNorthernHelmand.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ^ Knight, Sam (and agencies) (2007-06-05). "Osama sent me a letter, says Taleban fighter". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1888046.ece. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ^ "British soldier killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday". http://www.mod.uk/.+2007-06-06. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/BritishSoldierKilledInAfghanistanOnWednesday6June2007.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ^ "Helmand Residents Question NATO Success Claims". http://www.iwpr.net/ (IWPR). 2007-06-19. http://www.iwpr.net/?p=arr&s=f&o=336415&apc_state=henh. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
Categories:- Conflicts in 2007
- 2007 in Afghanistan
- NATO operations in Afghanistan
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving the United Kingdom
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving the United States
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving Canada
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving Denmark
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving Norway
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving Afghanistan
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
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