Operation Achilles

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Operation Achilles

Royal Marines send a situation report during the initial breech (entry) into a Taliban compound.

Date	March 6, 2007 - Ongoing
Location	Helmand province, Afghanistan
Result	Ongoing

Combatants

United Kingdom,

Canada,

United States,

Netherlands,

Afghan National Army

Taliban insurgents

Commanders

Maj.-Gen. Ton van Loon

Mullah Abdul Qassim

Strength

4,200 (United Kingdom),
300 (Canada),
1,000 (United States),
1,000 (ANA)

Approximately 4,000

Casualties

2 killed (UK),
4 killed (ANA)

79 killed,
17 captured

War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Qala-i-Jangi – Tora Bora – Anaconda – Mountain Thrust – Panjwaii – Medusa – Mountain Fury – Falcon Summit – *Achilles*

Operation Achilles is an ongoing NATO operation, part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present). Its objective is to clear the Helmand province of the Taliban. The operation began on March 6th of 2007 and the offensive will be the largest NATO based operation ever held in Afghanistan to date. NATO officials reported that, contrary to what happened in previous operations, Taliban fighters were avoiding direct confrontation in favor of guerilla tactics.

It is led by British ISAF forces and focuses on the Kajakai Dam, which is a major power source for Afghanistan that has not been functioning for a number of years. One part of the mission was Operation Volcano, where British Royal Marines successfully cleared a large Taliban complex near the Kajakai Dam. [1]

On March 16, U.S. General Dan McNeill reported that NATO forces were battling insurgents in various places in Southern Afghanistan but that most of the rebel fighters were steering clear of Western troops. He also said that NATO would launch new operations against the Taliban during the spring and summer.

On April 3, US and Afghan forces raided a compound in the Helmand province, because they got a tip a junior Taliban-commander was hiding in there. Indeed, Taliban forces were present. Heavy fighting broke out, which left at least 10 Taliban dead. 2 Taliban are captured. The coalition-side had no casualties. The fate of the young commander remains unknown.[2]