ianstone
08-01-2010, 08:11 AM
Scores Of Bombs Seized In Afghan Offensive
10:42am UK, Sunday August 01, 2010
Alison Chung and Tome Bonnett, Sky News Online
British forces have said they are making very good progress on day three of the biggest offensive in Afghanistan this summer.
British and Afghan troops taking part in Operation Tor Shezada (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Operation_Tor_Shezada) (Great link) are heading towards the Taliban stronghold of Saidebad in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand Province.
Troops have so far captured two Taliban compounds and seized scores of improvised bombs and bomb-making equipment.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Operation Tor Shezada is progressing very well.
"Quantities of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] have been recovered and shuras [meetings] have been held with village chiefs in an attempt to offer reassurance."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Aug/Week1/15674410.jpg British and Afghan soldiers clear a small village of IEDs
Sky correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who is on the front line with troops, described the journey to Saidebad as "extremely dangerous".
"Firstly you have this huge road clearance job. It's about 3km long and considered a vitally important roadway so that there can be ordinary movement of traffic along it," he said.
"We've gone along the first few hundred metres but troops are finding huge numbers of very large IEDs, or roadside bombs.
"They're finding them, they're blowing them up as soon as they can but it takes a very long time and it's extremely dangerous work."
He added: "There is also the patrolling that is taking place and pushing into the Taliban positions further south towards Saidebad.
"There has been engagement with the Taliban this morning and it's likely to go on throughout the day as it did yesterday."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Aug/Week1/15674414.jpg Roadside bombs litter the paths to Saidebad
The operation intends to push insurgents further from the areas cleared in Operation Moshtarak earlier this year.
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 Saidebad.
"They are keen that insurgents be removed so that they can live, work and travel there safely."
Operation Tor Shezada, which translates as "black prince", started with soldiers being dropped from Chinook helicopters under cover of darkness on Friday.
:: Earlier, a minibus carrying Afghan civilians struck a roadside bomb in Kandahar in the south of the country, killing six passengers.
Bookmark the story
Scores Of Bombs Seized In Afghan Offensive
10:42am UK, Sunday August 01, 2010
Alison Chung and Tome Bonnett, Sky News Online
British forces have said they are making very good progress on day three of the biggest offensive in Afghanistan this summer.
British and Afghan troops taking part in Operation Tor Shezada (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Operation_Tor_Shezada) (Great link) are heading towards the Taliban stronghold of Saidebad in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand Province.
Troops have so far captured two Taliban compounds and seized scores of improvised bombs and bomb-making equipment.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Operation Tor Shezada is progressing very well.
"Quantities of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] have been recovered and shuras [meetings] have been held with village chiefs in an attempt to offer reassurance."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Aug/Week1/15674410.jpg British and Afghan soldiers clear a small village of IEDs
Sky correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who is on the front line with troops, described the journey to Saidebad as "extremely dangerous".
"Firstly you have this huge road clearance job. It's about 3km long and considered a vitally important roadway so that there can be ordinary movement of traffic along it," he said.
"We've gone along the first few hundred metres but troops are finding huge numbers of very large IEDs, or roadside bombs.
"They're finding them, they're blowing them up as soon as they can but it takes a very long time and it's extremely dangerous work."
He added: "There is also the patrolling that is taking place and pushing into the Taliban positions further south towards Saidebad.
"There has been engagement with the Taliban this morning and it's likely to go on throughout the day as it did yesterday."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Aug/Week1/15674414.jpg Roadside bombs litter the paths to Saidebad
The operation intends to push insurgents further from the areas cleared in Operation Moshtarak earlier this year.
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 Saidebad.
"They are keen that insurgents be removed so that they can live, work and travel there safely."
Operation Tor Shezada, which translates as "black prince", started with soldiers being dropped from Chinook helicopters under cover of darkness on Friday.
:: Earlier, a minibus carrying Afghan civilians struck a roadside bomb in Kandahar in the south of the country, killing six passengers.
Bookmark the story
Scores Of Bombs Seized In Afghan Offensive