British Special Forces (SAS) kill 20 Taliban in Afghanistan as Battle of Sangin Rages on

[mike2000 is back]

SAS kill 20 Taliban in siege of Sangin as photo emerges which appears to show British heroes on daring night raid

• British Special Forces have killed at least 20 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan
• Officially British forces are merely supporting in an 'advisory role'
• The SAS have been involved in close-quarter combat with Taliban in Helmand

By MARK NICOL IN KABUL FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

PUBLISHED: 22:18, 26 December 2015 | UPDATED: 00:40, 27 December 2015

British Special Forces have killed at least 20 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan – despite the official line that our forces are merely supporting the Afghan army in an 'advisory role'.

The SAS are involved in close-quarter battles to stop the extremists capturing the strategically important town of Sangin in Helmand Province, where more than 100 UK personnel have previously lost their lives.

It is understood that this is the first fighting in Sangin involving UK personnel since late 2010 when 40 Commando Royal Marines withdrew from the town.

The Mail on Sunday has obtained an exclusive picture showing elite troops posing with Afghan commandos after a fierce battle against the extremists last week.

The Mail on Sunday has obtained an exclusive picture showing elite troops posing with Afghan commandos after a fierce battle against the extremists last week

British Special Forces have killed at least 20 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan – despite the official line that our forces are merely supporting the Afghan army in an 'advisory role'

Our dramatic image from Sangin includes four Special Forces troops armed with high-powered assault rifles and wearing night-vision goggles. It was posted online on Christmas Eve and triggered thousands of supportive messages from Afghans thanking the troops for risking their lives to defeat the Taliban.

Sources close to the SAS confirmed last night that the troops appeared to be British, based on their weapons and clothing, though they stressed that Special Forces from other Nato countries were sometimes similarly equipped and were also involved in secret missions in Helmand Province.

Last night, defence sources described how heavily armed SAS troops joined Afghan soldiers from the 215 Expeditionary Corps to undertake a series of strike operations to try to break the Taliban's siege around Sangin.

For several weeks the insurgents had blocked all major roads leading into the vital town, cutting off supply routes of the poorly equipped Afghan troops and local police holding out here. Some Afghan troops even resorted to posting messages on Facebook pleading for more ammunition and food to be dropped for them.

Sources in Afghanistan said that the SAS used satellite imagery and intercepts of Taliban communications to identify weak points in their defensive lines. Then, on the night of December 22, the elite British troops approached a Taliban checkpoint about 1½ miles north of Sangin on the main road to the neighbouring town of Kajaki.

The SAS guys used their night vision goggles to their advantage and the infra-red target designators which were attached to their rifles

Captured: Taliban prisoners in the custody of the Afghan army last week

A source said: 'It was a classic stealth attack using the cover of darkness. The SAS guys used their night vision goggles to their advantage and the infra-red target designators which were attached to their rifles. This equipment allowed them to identify Taliban gunmen with pinpoint accuracy and eliminate them.

'Officially the British troops were only present in a mentoring role but when they get that close to a fire-fight it is hard to stop them. Publicly speaking their job is to 'train, advise and assist' the Afghans. I think on this occasion the SAS's interpretation of this role was to show the Afghan commandos how the job is done.'

The raid on the Taliban checkpoint on the Kajaki road was one of several that night involving the SAS. British and other Special Forces also accompanied Afghan military units as fighting raged in other districts of Helmand and near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.

The Taliban particularly wanted to seize control of Sangin because the town sits on key routes for trafficking drugs and other contraband.

Sangin first came to prominence in 2006 when around 100 UK troops found themselves besieged by the Taliban. For the next four years UK troops fought a losing battle to bring stability to the town until they were eventually replaced by the US Marine Corps.

Members of the Afghan security forces make last minute preparation during an operation in Helmand

The Taliban particularly wanted to seize control of Sangin because the town sits on key routes for trafficking drugs and other contraband

Sangin first came to prominence in 2006 when around 100 UK troops found themselves besieged by the Taliban

The Taliban particularly wanted to seize control of Sangin because the town sits on key routes for trafficking drugs and other contraband

This forlorn yet heroic struggle cost the lives of 106 British soldiers – nearly a quarter of the nation's dead from the 13-year-long combat mission in Afghanistan.

Last night the mother of a British soldier critically wounded in Sangin in 2006 said she was horrified by the thought of troops going back into combat there.

Diane Dernie, whose son, Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, suffered brain damage and lost both legs in a bomb blast in the town said: 'It is incredibly saddening. I'm absolutely horrified by the thought we could get drawn back into this unwinnable war. We have already sacrificed so much in Sangin and we haven't learned from our mistakes.'

A senior Nato officer admitted that UK troops are helping their Afghan counterparts 'at a tactical level' – but he insisted that it was the Afghan army and not international troops who were doing the fighting.

US General Wilson Shoffner told The Mail on Sunday: 'In Helmand the British contribution is part of a larger Nato expeditionary advisory effort. But our mission is not combat, the Afghans are doing that and are responsible for the progress on the ground in recent days.

'Helmand continues to be a contested area and we know it's going to be a tough fight. The Taliban's main objective has been to take control of the province. It has failed to do so.'

The revelations about the SAS's frontline role in the battle against the Taliban emerged as British pilots continued their aerial campaign against Islamic State.

In the last three weeks the RAF has completed more than 50 successful air strikes against the insurgents in Iraq – but it has not dropped any bombs on enemy targets in neighbouring Syria since December 6.

Last night, Elizabeth Quintana from the Royal United Services Institute think-tank said the UK was concentrating on supporting the Iraqi Army mission to recapture the key town of Ramadi from IS.

She said: 'Ramadi will hopefully be liberated soon and then attention will turn to the battle for the city of Mosul.'



Read more: SAS kill 20 Taliban in siege of Sangin, Afghanistan as photo emerges | Daily Mail Online
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Weel done to our boys. However without the Afghan government taking more responsibilities to reduce corruption/nepotism/inefficiency and many other things that prevents the government from effectively governing the country, then i'm afraid all these military victories will be invane yet again. A military victory has to be accompanied by a political one.

 

[Falcon29]

What's strategically important about it? Looks like small town in middle of Afghanistan. How does Taliban randomly appear? It's not like they had stronghold in south and stormed the north. It seems like they transport cells to the town then plan ambushes there. That is not effective strategy for capturing cities but it is effective in targeting Afghani forces. To solve this Afghani government need to clamp down on corruption and black market arms trade. Taliban fighters seem like they work with what they have, they aren't trained at all it seems. Sort of like how some Syrian rebels, just pick weapon up and go. But Taliban is more effective in that. Says something about Afghani security structure, not organized it seems.

 

[WaLeEdK2]

No matter how many you kill you will not defeat the Taliban. After 15 years I thought the West would get it by now.

 

[Falcon29]

No matter how many you kill you will not defeat the Taliban. After 15 years I thought the West would get it by now.

Is there any estimated manpower for Taliban?

 

[WaLeEdK2]

Is there any estimated manpower for Taliban?

Not sure. On Wikipedia is says that as of 2014, 60 000 fighters. Considering they've been able to capture Kunduz is a clear indication of their strength in the country.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Yes reason I said military victories should be accompanied by political/administrative victories else little will change no matter how many talibans we kill or how many battles we win(which we have for all our stay there). It's up to Afghans themselves and their government, we can't do everything for them.

 

[Kambojaric]

Is there any estimated manpower for Taliban?

Numbers keep varying so there is no way of giving an accurate number. A lot of militias keep drifting towards being pro government and pro Taliban depending on who pays them better. Several western documentaries have highlighted this issue, where pro government militia leaders have put it quite bluntly that they have no problem in switching to the Taliban side if the government does not pay them enough or on time to feed their children and families.

 

[oprih]

Battling against the taliban was so devastating for nato, I believe hundreds of british soldiers was killed in Afghanistan. That is scary, even with all the sophisticated weapons and training of nato, they are still having a hard time dealing with the taliban.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Battling against the taliban was so devastating for nato, I believe hundreds of british soldiers was killed in Afghanistan. That is scary, even with all the sophisticated weapons and training of nato, they are still having a hard time dealing with the taliban.

Iol Throughout our presence in Afghanistan,Our forces haven't lost even a single battle against the Taliban(I'm sure you know this very well. Lol ). The Taliban merely use guerilla tactics/suicide bombs/hit and run against our forces since they know they are no match for us in a conventional confrontation or if they were to fight like a regular army .Thats what opponents do when they know they are no match against a powerful foe. This is not World War II where regular armies faced each other on the battle field.lol

As I said before, it's not about military prowess/victories(which we achieved pretty much during our stay there), but a political one. Only a political/administrative solution will end this conflict.

 

[Schutz]

Battling against the taliban was so devastating for nato, I believe hundreds of british soldiers was killed in Afghanistan. That is scary, even with all the sophisticated weapons and training of nato, they are still having a hard time dealing with the taliban.

Everyone will have a hard time dealing with the Taliban because like most muslim countries, allegiances change very very easily. Its basically like Mexico with the cartels, if you can threaten or bribe enough people in certain areas then your always welcome and the military cant massacre whole populations. Even the soviets couldnt do it whilst killing over a million civilians.

They are a weak force in every aspect of what you would describe as military but if you pay off enough local leaders in one village then another 20 people pop up ready for their fight, threaten an ANA soldier and he ends up shooting a few of his trainers.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Everyone will have a hard time dealing with the Taliban because like most muslim countries, allegiances change very very easily. Its basically like Mexico with the cartels, if you can threaten or bribe enough people in certain areas then your always welcome and the military cant massacre whole populations. Even the soviets couldnt do it whilst killing over a million civilians.

They are a weak force in every aspect of what you would describe as military but if you pay off enough local leaders in one village then another 20 people pop up ready for their fight, threaten an ANA soldier and he ends up shooting a few of his trainers.

Agree.

 

[Kambojaric]

Iol Throughout our presence in Afghanistan,Our forces haven't lost even a single battle against the Taliban(I'm sure you know this very well. Lol ). The Taliban merely use guerilla tactics/suicide bombs/hit and run against our forces since they know they are no match for us in a conventional confrontation or if they were to fight like a regular army .Thats what opponents do when they know they are no match against a powerful foe. This is not World War II where regular armies faced each other on the battle field.lol

As I said before, it's not about military prowess/victories(which we achieved pretty much during our stay there), but a political one. Only a political/administrative solution will end this conflict.

And on this point the Afghan political establishment have failed miserably. After decades of war, economy having been hammered into nothingness and immense civilian discord, they still cling onto irredentist beliefs with regards to say for example Pakistani territory, and subsequently have the audicity to complain that other countries in the region interfere in their private domestic matters. Stop claiming the lands of other countries and maybe they in return will then start respecting your sovereignty. It would be a different matter if the people living in the territories Afghanistan is claiming did express a desire to join that country and break away from Pakistan. This however isn't happening despite repeated Afghan attempts throughout history from 1947 onwards to try and incite rebellions, and on some occasions actually send militias and regular forces across the border to incite rebellion. Until the civilian and military establishnent of Afghanistan let go off the past and realise that in the modern age Afghanistan is tiny compared to its neighbours in terms of military and economic power, then until that day their country will know no peace, no matter how many lives NATO countries puts on the line for the Kabul regime

 

[mike2000 is back]

And on this point the Afghan political establishment have failed miserably. After decades of war, economy having been hammered into nothingness and immense civilian discord, they still cling onto irredentist beliefs with regards to say for example Pakistani territory, and subsequently have the audicity to complain that other countries in the region interfere in their private domestic matters. Stop claiming the lands of other countries and maybe they in return will then start respecting your sovereignty. It would be a different matter if the people living in the territories Afghanistan is claiming did express a desire to join that country and break away from Pakistan. This however isn't happening despite repeated Afghan attempts throughout history from 1947 onwards to try and incite rebellions, and on some occasions actually send militias and regular forces across the border to incite rebellion. Until the civilian and military establishnent of Afghanistan let go off the past and realise that in the modern age Afghanistan is tiny compared to its neighbours in terms of military and economic power, then until that day their country will know no peace, no matter how many lives NATO countries puts on the line for the Kabul regime

Well, the Afghan leadership have already showed the world they are useless/powerless/corrupt to the core and unable to rule their own country. They don't even seem t care to be honest, as far as they fill their pockets to hell with the rest. I do agree with you to some extent, the government in Kabul will obviously find it easier to blame outside forces for its own incompetence/inability to rule the country than self correct. It will be interesting to see what will happen when U.S/U.K and all western powers finally leave Afghanistan for GOOD. I'm sure the Taliban will take over without much effort. If the current Afghan government doesn't change its ways, then they will be toppled as soon as we leave the country for good. Their country their problem, not ours anymore.

 

[nangyale]

Well, the Afghan leadership have already showed the world they are useless/powerless/corrupt to the core and unable to rule their own country. They don't even seem t care to be honest, as far as they fill their pockets to hell with the rest. I do agree with you to some extent, the government in Kabul will obviously find it easier to blame outside forces for its own incompetence/inability to rule the country than self correct. It will be interesting to see what will happen when U.S/U.K and all western powers finally leave Afghanistan for GOOD. I'm sure the Taliban will take over without much effort. If the current Afghan government doesn't change its ways, then they will be toppled as soon as we leave the country for good. Their country their problem, not ours anymore.

That's what happens when you invade countries and install puppets. Nobody wants to be ruled by foreigners and the ones who do are the useless/powerless/corrupt to the core kind as you so described.

 

[mike2000 is back]

That's what happens when you invade countries and install puppets. Nobody wants to be ruled by foreigners and the ones who do are the useless/powerless/corrupt to the core kind as you so described.

Nope, its not a matter of installing puppets, since the invasion of Afghanistan was mainly because the Taliban government refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden after the terror attacks on world trade center which killed thousands of Americans and hundreds of British citizens, when western powers repeatedly asked them to hand him and his close subordinates up.
It's not like Afghanistan was an eldorado before the invasion. lol It was still a poor backward country ruled by radical islamic group Taliban where women were not allowed to do anything other than to reproduce babies, and stay veiled/wear Burqa behind close doors with no rights whatsoever etc etc. If anything western powers have tried to empower Afghans and change things, but obviously corrupt/radical elements in Afghanistan don't want that. Its their country though, they can make it as backward as they want, they are the ones living in it not us. we can only do so much to be honest.