British and Afghan Forces launch new offensive against the Taliban

UK Ministry of Defence,

British soldiers from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), working alongside their Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) counterparts, have launched a further operation to drive the Taliban out of the Upper Gereshk Valley in southern Afghanistan.

The Task Force level offensive, codenamed 'Chakush' or 'Hammer', began in the early hours of Tuesday 24 July 2007 in the area between Heyderabad and Mirmandab, north east of Gereshk.

Led by the British commanded Task Force Helmand, the operation is continuing the momentum towards expelling Taliban forces from areas of the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand province.

ISAF's enduring objective is to extend the influence and control of Afghanistan's democratically elected Government as well as enabling vital reconstruction and development projects to take place.

The creation of an enduring security presence in the Upper Gereshk Valley is an important step to achieving these objectives.

During the initial stages of the operation, ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces advanced to secure a strategic bridge crossing over the Nahr-e-Seraj canal, clearing and searching compounds, before military engineers from 26 Engineer Regiment established a joint forward operating base in order to provide an enduring and reassuring security presence in the area.

ISAF soldiers and the Afghan National Army are continuing to move through Taliban-held areas expanding north, south and east into the Upper Gereshk Valley.

Conducted in support of the Afghan Government and in consultation with the local authorities, Operation Chakush builds on progress made in defeating the Taliban and extending the Afghan Government's authority within Helmand province during recent months.

Task Force Helmand spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Mayo said:
“This operation is another important step in continuing the progress we have made recently in providing the enduring security conditions required for the Afghan Government to remove Taliban influence from the communities in Sangin and the Upper Gereshk Valley.

“It is vitally important to prevent the Taliban intimidating and terrorising the local population so that they can go about their daily lives peacefully.

“The malignant presence of the Taliban subjects the people of Helmand to the threat of violence and hampers reconstruction and development projects that are so important to improving their quality of life.

“The local people have welcomed Afghan National Army and Task Force Helmand soldiers and are pleased that we are driving the Taliban out of their villages.

“They know that Afghan National Army and ISAF soldiers are working hard to deliver the peace and stability they so desperately want.”

A total of 2,000 ISAF and ANSF personnel are taking part in the operation, 1,500 of those being drawn from British forces, namely The Light Dragoons, The First Battalion Grenadier Guards – who are providing operational mentoring to Afghan National Army troops (from 2nd Kandak 3rd Brigade 205 Corps Afghan National Army), the (12 Mechanized) Brigade Reconnaissance Force, 26 Regiment Royal Engineers, 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, the Joint Force EOD group as well as troops from Estonia, Denmark and the US. ISAF helicopters and aircraft are providing support to ground troops.

The UK-led Task Force Helmand has carried out a number of recent operations in the province. Earlier this month Operation Leg Tufaan (“Small Storm”) removed Taliban influence from the towns of Gereshk and Kakaran into the Upper Gereshk Valley. Operation Ghartse Gar (“Mountain Stag”) was launched to take control of Jusyalay, between Sangin and Putay.