Operation Mongoose (2003)
| Operation Mongoose | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) (Operation Enduring Freedom) | |||||||
 Top: AH-64 Apache attack helicopter called in to destroy a suspected Taliban weapons cache Bottom: Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division on a search and destroy mission in the Adi Ghar Mountains | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 ISAF United States Norway Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan |
 Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin Taliban al-Qaeda | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Lt. Col. Charlie Flynn | Gulbuddin Hekmatyar | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Special Forces 82nd Airborne Division
| Insurgent militias | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
300-350 soldiers F-16s[8] | 80 fighters (coalition estimate)[9][10] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None |
22 killed, 13 captured (per coalition)[11] 18 reported killed during the Battle in the Adi Ghar Mountains[12][9] | ||||||
Operation Mongoose was an American-led two week
By the end of the operation, over 75 caves had been cleared.Battle in the Adi Ghar Mountains
On the 27 January, a patrol of US Special Forces accompanied by Afghan militia fighters came under small arms fire while clearing a compound approximately 13 kilometers north of
Norwegian Air Force had seen combat since World War II.[9] On the ground, a joint force of at least 350, including US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and Special Forces, alongside coalition and Afghan militia troops were called to the area to participate in the operation. The fighting lasted into the next day with the battle ending about 12 hours after the initial engagement. US and Norwegian aircraft dropped 19 2,000 pound bombs and two guided 500 pound bombs.[13][9] At least 18 fighters loyal to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar were reported killed with no coalition casualties. The battle was described as the largest since Operation Anaconda.[5][14][12]
References
- ^ "Hizb-i-Islami (Islamic Party)". Global Security. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Garamone, Jim (5 February 2003). "Cave-Clearing Ops Proceed in Spin Boldak Area". American Forces Press Service. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ a b Gezari, Vanessa. "U.S. forces gain uneasy victory at Afghan caves". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Forvirrende om Operation Mongoose". Klassekampen.no. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Informer's Tip Leads to Afghan Mountain Battle". Associated Press. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "DefenseLINK News: 12 Afghans Surrender After Firefight". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ a b c "Defense.gov News Article: Cave-Clearing Ops Proceed in Spin Boldak Area". Archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Operation Enduring Freedom : 2002 - 2005" (PDF). History.army.nil. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d McCarthy, Rory (29 January 2003). "US soldiers attack mountain hideout in biggest battle for a year". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Operation Mongoose: Cave Clearing Taliban Strongholds • Killing Time". Hk94.com. 26 February 2003. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Suicide Attacks in Afghanistan: Why Now?". Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ a b "U.S. forces searching Afghan caves". Upi.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "CNN.com - Allies scour Afghan caves after fierce battle - Jan. 29, 2003". Cnn.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Fierce battle rages in Afghanistan". News.bbc.co.uk. 28 January 2003. Retrieved 16 March 2019.