ianstone
07-31-2010, 04:24 PM
UK Taliban Push Back 'Making Good Progress'
Comments (15) (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Afghanistan-British-Troops-Begin-Day-Two-Of-Tor-Shezada-Operation-To-Push-Taliban-Back-Further/Article/201007415674072?lpos=World_News_News_Your_Way_Regi on_4&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15674072_Afghanista#commen ts)
8:34pm UK, Saturday July 31, 2010
Tom Bonnett and Alison Chung, Sky News Online
British and Afghan troops taking part in a major operation against Taliban insurgents are making good progress but "there is still a long way to go".
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week4/15674088.jpg A soldier keeps guard of a compound gained in the operation
Military chiefs said Operation Tor Shezada, which translates as "black prince", has started well as it entered its second day.
The operation is being spearheaded by 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.
Their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Frazer Lawrence, told Sky News: "It's still very early on in the operation.
"The operation has gone as well as it possibly could do but there's still a long way to go.
"Morale is very high indeed. The troops are eager to do the job they are paid to do."
Hundreds of soldiers were dropped from Chinook helicopters under the cover of darkness yesterday.
They then moved in to clear compounds and establish patrol bases in the area.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week4/15674084.jpg A soldier boards a Chinook to begin the Operation Tor Shezada
Royal Engineers were later brought in to clear trees and scrubland around the compounds to give them more visibility.
UK troops and Afghan forces from 3rd Brigade, 215 Corps, are clearing insurgents from Sayedebad to the south of Nad-e Ali.
Sky correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who is on the front line with troops, said there were two elements to the operation.
"One involves patrols moving south to known Taliban positions. For the first day the Taliban were very quiet but in last few hours they have started attacking on a fairly regular basis.
"The second track of the operation is to clear the main road south to Sayedebad and the big problem with that is the number of improvised explosive devices the soldiers are coming across.
"According to the commanders, it's going successfully but it's going to be held up because the Taliban are fighting back."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week4/15674168.jpg The operation is in its second day
The operation is being carried out in parallel to similar operations by the US Marine Corps in northern Marjah, the Ministry of Defence said.
Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "Operation Tor Shezada will continue the momentum generated by Operation Moshtarak earlier this year.
"Its aims are very much supported by local Afghans living in and around the area of Sayedebad.
"They are keen that insurgents be removed so that they can live, work and travel there safely."
Sayedebad sits between Nad-e Ali and Marjah in central Helmand, with a small community of around 6,000 Afghans.
It is hoped the town will be brought under Nato control in the next few days.
Comments (15) (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Afghanistan-British-Troops-Begin-Day-Two-Of-Tor-Shezada-Operation-To-Push-Taliban-Back-Further/Article/201007415674072?lpos=World_News_News_Your_Way_Regi on_4&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15674072_Afghanista#commen ts)
8:34pm UK, Saturday July 31, 2010
Tom Bonnett and Alison Chung, Sky News Online
British and Afghan troops taking part in a major operation against Taliban insurgents are making good progress but "there is still a long way to go".
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week4/15674088.jpg A soldier keeps guard of a compound gained in the operation
Military chiefs said Operation Tor Shezada, which translates as "black prince", has started well as it entered its second day.
The operation is being spearheaded by 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.
Their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Frazer Lawrence, told Sky News: "It's still very early on in the operation.
"The operation has gone as well as it possibly could do but there's still a long way to go.
"Morale is very high indeed. The troops are eager to do the job they are paid to do."
Hundreds of soldiers were dropped from Chinook helicopters under the cover of darkness yesterday.
They then moved in to clear compounds and establish patrol bases in the area.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week4/15674084.jpg A soldier boards a Chinook to begin the Operation Tor Shezada
Royal Engineers were later brought in to clear trees and scrubland around the compounds to give them more visibility.
UK troops and Afghan forces from 3rd Brigade, 215 Corps, are clearing insurgents from Sayedebad to the south of Nad-e Ali.
Sky correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who is on the front line with troops, said there were two elements to the operation.
"One involves patrols moving south to known Taliban positions. For the first day the Taliban were very quiet but in last few hours they have started attacking on a fairly regular basis.
"The second track of the operation is to clear the main road south to Sayedebad and the big problem with that is the number of improvised explosive devices the soldiers are coming across.
"According to the commanders, it's going successfully but it's going to be held up because the Taliban are fighting back."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week4/15674168.jpg The operation is in its second day
The operation is being carried out in parallel to similar operations by the US Marine Corps in northern Marjah, the Ministry of Defence said.
Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "Operation Tor Shezada will continue the momentum generated by Operation Moshtarak earlier this year.
"Its aims are very much supported by local Afghans living in and around the area of Sayedebad.
"They are keen that insurgents be removed so that they can live, work and travel there safely."
Sayedebad sits between Nad-e Ali and Marjah in central Helmand, with a small community of around 6,000 Afghans.
It is hoped the town will be brought under Nato control in the next few days.