From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Operation Kryptonite
Operation Kryptonite
Operation Kryptonite Operation Kryptonite was the name given to a joint op-
eration including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands
Part of Operation Achilles, War in Afghanistan and the Afghan National Army, representing the ISAF
(2001–present)
and NATO. The operation itself was part of Operation
Achilles. The intention of the operation was to clear the
area around the Kajakai Dam, belonging to Taliban fight-
ers so this important power generation station could be
reopened.[1] Sporadic fighting had been occurring
around the dam and the Taliban controlled the town of
Musa Qala for around ten days as the Allied forces at-
tempted to gain a foothold in the area so they could begin
the offensive.
The battle
Allied Troops launched their offensive over the weekend
of the 10th and 11th, little pre-raid bombing took place
The Kajakai Dam, coalition objective.
as to avoid damaging infrastructure in and around the
Date Early February to February 12, 2007 dam. Destruction of the dam would have had grave re-
sults for both sides and the Afghan people.[1] This may
Location Helmand province, Afghanistan
have been a major reason for the Taliban to not destroy
Result Coalition victory; repairs on the Kajakai Dam it as they fled. Allied troops came under heavy small
begin. arms fire and light heavy arms fire including RPGs and
bombs as they advanced towards the dam. Towards the
Belligerents
end of the battle, it became obvious that although out-
Netherlands, Taliban
numbered, the ability of allied troops to cut the enemy’s
United Kingdom, insurgents supplies was more demoralizing as Taliban forces started
to flee the field of battle.[1] Early Monday morning, allied
Afghan National Army
forces carried out a pre-dawn bombing raid on Taliban
Commanders and leaders forces located approximately in between the dam and
the town, killing the Taliban commander Mullah Manan.
Maj.-Gen. Ton van Loon was in Mullah This killing was seen as the straw that broke the camel’s
charge of Allied forces in the area Manan†, leader of
and although absent from the the Taliban
back, as not long after chaos ensued amongst the Taliban
fighting is credited with planning insurgents in the forces as they made a hasty retreat. This quote from
most of the assault area Colonel Tom Collins describes the desperate Taliban re-
treat:
Strength
“ During this action ... Taliban extremists re- ”
300 total 700 fighters, sorted to the use of human shields. Specifical-
mostly foreign
mujahideen that
ly, using local Afghan children to cover as
were Chechens, they escaped out of the area,
Pakistanis and -Colonel Tom Collins, NATO spokesman.[1]
Uzbeks.
Small arms, heavy
arms (RPGs, etc) Aftermath
Casualties and losses Although the Taliban never intended to topple the dam
None 15 killed, they still resorted to a semi-scorched earth policy. They
10 captured destroyed or dismantled many of the complex mechani-
cal components of the dam as they fled the field, to delay
a NATO advance.[1] Seizing of this dam and getting it up
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Operation Kryptonite
and running again was of great importance to the Al- spite NATO claims that human shields were used), al-
lied troops, as restoring much needed power to the area though this is refuted by local leaders.
would win support for the allied troops and the Afghan
mission overall from the locals, as well as provide jobs in
the energy sector.
External links
NATO reported that it suffered no casualties in the [1] ^ "Taliban flee battle using children as shields -
fighting, and that the number they killed or wounded is NATO". alertnet.org (Reuters). 2007-02-14.
unknown. They did say however that they captured ten http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/
suspected militants during and after the battle. NATO al- SP287758.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
so claims that no civilians were killed in the action (de- • February 2007 - Afghanistan Update
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Kryptonite&oldid=406246977"
Categories:
• 2007 in Afghanistan
• NATO operations in Afghanistan
• Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
• Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving the United Kingdom
• Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving the Netherlands
• Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving Afghanistan
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