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SAS Operation in Afghanistan

Discussion in 'Military History' started by Jet, Jun 18, 2003.

  1. Jet

    Jet Member

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    The White Mountains of Afghanistan, used by smugglers in ancient times to reach Pakistan, and used by the Afghanis during the Soviet Invasion. Since then it has been relatively peaceful ... until now. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 80's the Afghanistan rebels would use the caves in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan to shelter. During the Soviet invasion, the soviets made three Attempts to take the caves but failed each time. The mountains are formed from Lime Stone, the mountains are riddled with a maze of caves formed by water dissolving the rocks. Osama Bin Laden used much of his vast fortune to enlarge and equip the caves with ventilation and and lighting. Bin Laden fled to the Tora Bora caves after the US forces arrived in Afghanistan, there he surrounded himself with Al Qaeda soldiers and was confident that the US soldiers would not venture into the White Mountains where the Tora Bora caves are located.

    US Air strikes began around December 1, 2001. Afghani Allied forces (1000-3000) began their siege December 5. The assault on the Tora Bora complex started with Anti-Taliban troops advancing across the Jalabad plain and up the steep heavily wooded valleys to the White Mountains, the Anti-Taliban troops were supported by US B52 bombers. Upon hearing that the Anti Taliban and coalition forces were entering the White Mountain region the Al Qaeda started fleeing across into the neighbouring Pakistan, the Pakistani government then sent troops into the mountains to seal its border.

    Among the many troops sent to Tora Bora was the 22nd Special Air Service, it was here that two members from the Regiment were almost to receive Victoria cross but to be taken away from them because of technicality. The SAS were carrying M16 Assault rifles, and Sig 228 9mm pistols as there sidearms, they also wore Kevlar armour which had ceramic breastplates as to stop bullets penetrating vital organs. They also carried with them the Boker Applegate-Fairbairn combat knife, and a couple of them carried the Ghurkha combat knife, the Kukris. Under the cover of darkness the SAS were deployed into the White Mountain region, and moved to the Tora Bora caves. At first light two four man teams moved into the caves while two teams stayed outside to stop any other Al Qaeda entering the complex. The SAS slowly made there way into the mountain caves, when suddenly all hell broke loose two Al Qaeda soldiers armed with AK 47's dropped dead, then alerted by the shots more Al Qaeda soldiers appeared. A trooper was wounded but the SAS had to ignore him because the room was rapidly filling with more Al Qaeda fighters. Some of the support team from outside quickly came into the caves to retrieve the wounded soldier while one of them stayed to take his place. Soon the fire fight turned into a knife fight as there was no time to reload weapons, from out side there was the rhythmic beats from a 7.62 GPMG which was opening fire on any Al Qaeda fighter trying to enter the caves and reinforce there comrades. There was fierce fighting within the caves and the tension for the men outside covering the cave entrance was unbearable. By the end of the Operation which lasted for about four hours, there were 27 Al Qaeda fighters, dead 30 wounded and 30 plasticuffed and captured by the SAS. The SAS had suffered four wounded men, who were evacuated by US Army helicopters, one of them had suffered a 7.62 AK 47 bullet in the shin which shattered the bone. A couple of the SAS troopers were hit in the chest but were saved by there Kevlar vest specially made to with stand rifle bullets.

    The big question on everyone's lips is "did Osama Bin Laden escape and how?". The answer to that were the villagers who lived on the border of Pakistan and knew the White Mountains well. One villager told news papers that a group of men up to 600 strong wearing black turbans and carrying Ak47's passed through his village under the cover of darkness. One of the guides who was interviewed told that each trip took from 10 - 7 hours, he decided it was safer to escort groups of 20, in return the Al Qaeda would give him money and weapons. In mid December US int. picked up a brief radio message which sounded like Osama encouraging his forces in the Tora Bora caves, it is believed that this was a ruse to conceal his escape from Tora Bora. There have been many alleged sightings of Bin Laden, one guide said that he led Bin Laden and a group of 28 people on horse back out of the Tora Bora caves around the time that the radio message was intercepted. A second alleged sighting was from a Taliban ban soldier who said he saw Bin Laden at Shahikot, this soldier was ordered to prepare for a American attack, as he was getting into position he saw a tall lanky man walking down the rocky hill, when he got closer he recognised the man as Bin Laden, he said that he went around to each of the men encouraging them and lifting their morale.
     
  2. Friedrich

    Friedrich Expert

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    Very interesting, Jet! I did know some of that but I loved to learn some new details. [​IMG]
     

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