Operation Pickaxe-Handle

Operation 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.

Operation Pickaxe-Handle
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Airstrike in Sangin, April 10, 2007.
DateMay 30 - June 14, 2007
Location
Helmand province, Afghanistan
Result Tactical Coalition victory
Strategic outcome unclear
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Canada
 United States
 Estonia
 Denmark
 Norway
Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan		 Afghanistan Taliban
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page Afghanistan Tor Jan
Afghanistan Haji Nika[1]
Strength
United Kingdom ~1,000
Afghanistan 500
Norway ~150
Canada Unknown
United States Unknown
Estonia Unknown
Denmark Unknown
Total:~2,000		 ~1,000 insurgents
Casualties and losses
United States 7 killed
United Kingdom 3 killed, 24 wounded[2]
Canada 1 killed		 Over 100 confirmed killed
~150+ (British estimates)[2]

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.[3]

By June 2, NATO claimed to have surrounded several pockets of Taliban fighters. [4]

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.[5]

A British soldier was killed in a firefight at a Taliban compound to the north east of Gereshk on June 6. [6]

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 spokespersons 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.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Our forgotten war". telegraph.co.uk. 2007-06-03. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  2. Harding, Thomas (2007-06-06). "Afghanistan approaching 'all-out war'". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  3. "UK-led operation helps ISAF take control in northern Helmand (VIDEO)". mod.uk. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  4. "Taliban feel the pressure in northern Helmand". mod.uk. 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  5. Knight, Sam (and agencies) (2007-06-05). "Osama sent me a letter, says Taleban fighter". www.timesonline.co.uk/. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  6. "British soldier killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday". mod.uk. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  7. "Helmand Residents Question NATO Success Claims". www.iwpr.net/. IWPR. 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2007-06-27.

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