More than 100 men closed in on the compound in the early hours of 11 January 2007 supported by Apache attack helicopters and NATO and UK aircraft.
The compound, with between 60 and 100 Taliban fighters inside, was in the area of Kostay, to the south of the town of Garmsir, and was considered to be one of the main headquarters for Taliban forces in the south of Helmand province.
UK forces spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce, said:
"This is the latest in a series of successful operations to disrupt and destroy known Taliban strongholds in Helmand.
"It forms part of our policy of weakening the Taliban force and resolve, and not allowing them to regroup and re-arm over the winter period.
"By adopting such tactics we are able to restore confidence to local communities, allow Afghans to rebuild their lives without fear of Taliban persecution, and continue with an expansive programme of reconstruction and development."
The operation began when troops from the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF), part of 3 Commando Brigade, supported by the Light Dragoons, crossed the Helmand river and took up positions around the compound at approximately 0330 hours.
The first of two compounds was targeted by BRF snipers before the building was attacked from the air and destroyed. Troops then switched attention to a second building which was also destroyed by the air support.
Both aerial attacks were direct hits and first reports suggest there was no collateral damage to other buildings or civilians. The Task Force troops left the scene at approximately 0700 hours. There were no Task Force casualties.
Major Mike Geldard, who coordinated the operation from the UK Task Force Head Quarters, said it was not possible to say how many Taliban may have been killed but he said it was believed to be a significant number:
"It was a very successful operation," he said. "This was probably the biggest action in Helmand we have conducted to date in terms of a pre-planned operation. We have been building up information about this target for about two weeks. Through intelligence we were able to pinpoint these two locations that we considered to be a Taliban regional headquarters for the south of the province. The Taliban operates from a number of locations in the south but we understand this was one of the key sites."
British Forces also engaged the Taliban on 10 January 2007 and seized a significant weapons cache.
Members of J Company, 42 Commando, accompanied by Estonian Forces and the Afghan National Army on a recce patrol to the north east of Gereshk, a known area of Taliban activity, came under small arms , Rocket Propelled Grenades and mortar fire from between 35 and 50 Taliban
The International Security Assistant Forces (ISAF) returned fire and called in Apache helicopters and Harrier jets, as well as artillery for support. ISAF Forces then moved into a compound where they found and seized a large weapons cache.
A Viking tracked all-terrain vehicle was hit by a RPG but suffered no significant damage. The firefight continued for almost five hours.
Major Ewen Murchison, Officer Commanding J Company, 42 Commando, said the Taliban had been "neutralized" but that it was impossible to say how many casualties they had sustained.
There was only one ISAF casualty, a member of the Afghan National Army, who was taken to camp Bastion for medical treatment and is in a comfortable condition.
Major Murchison said:
"This is the fiercest fire fight J Company has been involved in, primarily due to the weight of fire that we came under, and the proximity of the Taliban, who at times were as close as 40 meters away. They were close enough to physically see them."