"Taliban Retakes Key Part of Helmand Province that U.S. Marines Fought and Died to Secure"

RallyPoint Shared Content — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:27:56 -0400

From: The Washington Free Beacon

Afghan officials confirmed that the Taliban has gained control of Now Zad in Helmand Province, a district that U.S. and British troops battled to secure between 2007 and 2010.

Heavy fighting in the district occurred between the Taliban and Afghan security forces at the end of July, which the Taliban has documented in a video entitled “Liberation of Now Zad” posted to its official website.

The Long War Journal reported

In the video, the Taliban are shown attacking and overrunning a hilltop base and occupying several military and police outposts, including a large base, in Now Zad. The video matches initial reports from both the Taliban and Afghan officials that Afghan soldiers and police abandoned the district center and police and military bases after heavy fighting. Days after taking Now Zad, the Taliban claimed that it killed more than 40 soldiers and police and this appears to be confirmed in the video. The bodies of dozens of dead soldiers are seen in different locations throughout the district.

The Taliban has also seized Humvees–one of which was used in the attack on the hilltop base–given to Afghan security forces, in addition to trucks and other supplies.

Between 2007 and 2010, the Taliban engaged in significant fighting with British forces and U.S. Marines at Now Zad. In 2009, over 900 U.S. and British troops partnered with 150 Afghan soldiers in Operation Cobra’s Anger to rid the area of Taliban control.

The majority of the 378 Marines killed in the Afghanistan war perished in Helmand Province, and most of the 450 British troops lost also died there.

However, when American forces withdrew from the area in June 2014, the Taliban began a campaign to retake territory that it lost to the more than 30,000 U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan to retake Taliban-controlled areas between 2009 and 2012.

The Taliban has since gained control of districts in Kunduz, Sar-i-Pul, and Badakhshan during recent months, and now adds Now Zad to that list.

U.S. and Afghan officials say that approximately 330 Afghan troops and police are either killed or injured in Taliban attacks every week.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/taliban-retakes-key-part-of-helmand-province-that-u-s-marines-fought-and-died-to-secure/

Taliban Retakes Key Part of Helmand Province that U.S. Marines Fought and Died to Secure

Afghan officials confirmed that the Taliban has gained control of Now Zad in Helmand Province, a district that U.S. and British troops battledto securebetween 2007 and 2010. Heavy fighting in t

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Aug 13 at 2015 10:30 AM

SFC Everett Oliver — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:30:47 -0400

I'm tired of the BS. Lets give the military the mission and tell them to report back when it's completed. No politics and no press involved....

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 10:32 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:32:14 -0400

THis sucks. More of it to come though.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Aug 13 at 2015 10:53 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:53:28 -0400

How many times has Afghanistan been invaded and remained pretty much the same old place?
Pickle barrels remain pickle barrels .. they never become cucumber barrels.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 13 at 2015 1:36 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:36:14 -0400

This is my surprised face.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 13 at 2015 1:45 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:45:22 -0400

Peru fought off an insurgency by the Hammer and Anvil method. The local security forces were the Anvil whose mission was to decisively engage the insurgents, and the Army became the Hammer to smash the insurgents.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 5:24 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 17:24:47 -0400

They take it back every 6 months to a year.

Response by Cpl Paul Smith made Aug 13 at 2015 6:30 PM

Cpl Paul Smith — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:30:12 -0400

No more American blood for their B.S.! They couldn't hold a town when their lives depend on it.

Response by Sgt Joseph Brent Montgomery made Aug 14 at 2015 7:04 PM

Sgt Joseph Brent Montgomery — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:04:39 -0400

Absolutely shameful. Do the Afghan Service Member's not have any pride and back bone to stand up for their own country, police force as well? The US spent time training these guys, you would think something would have rubbed off. Crying shame.