IN PICTURES: Afghan and British soldiers give insurgents a clear message
9 Mar 10
An Afghan Army patrol, mentored by British soldiers based at Patrol Base Shaheed, which was set up following Operation MOSHTARAK, gave insurgents a clear message during a recent encounter.
Afghan National Army commander engaging the insurgents
[Picture: Major Paul Smyth, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
The patrol, which took place on Thursday 4 March 2010, started off just like any other from Patrol Base Shaheed, which is 2.5km north east of Showal.
The Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) were in the lead as they are for most of the patrols in the area.
As usual they had with them a handful of British soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh who were there to offer support if needed.
Patrolling in the Green Zone, the soldiers were out to dominate the ground taken during Operation MOSHTARAK which started just three weeks ago.
An hour into the patrol the tranquillity was shattered just after the Afghan security forces left a compound where they had been talking to village elders.
Insurgents opened up on the rear of the patrol from a few hundred metres away using neighbouring compounds for cover. The patrol took cover in an irrigation ditch, observing the insurgents' movements and returning fire.
Fusilier Smith waits until it is time to move off
[Picture: Major Paul Smyth, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
Using the ANA and ANP to suppress the insurgents, the British troops moved location to join up with the ANA and ANP commanders.
While the Afghans kept the insurgents pinned down, the British patrol commander, Lieutenant Adam Libby, from B Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, called in surveillance aircraft to monitor the insurgents' movements as well as provide a show of force.
Within minutes a US fast jet was flying in within a few hundred metres of the ground, dropping flares to send out a very clear message to the insurgents that the patrol on the ground had some very significant firepower to call on if needed.
See more pictures from this patrol in the Gallery at Related News.
A 'show of force' over the insurgents
[Picture: Major Paul Smyth, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
The key to this fire-fight was to use just the right amount of force to suppress the insurgents and minimise damage to the area.
All around farmers and their families were tending to their crops and going about their day as usual.
With aircraft up in the sky monitoring the situation the patrol headed back to base knowing that the insurgents' every move was being tracked.
Commenting on the way the soldiers reacted during the fight, Lt Libby said:
"My lads reacted well and got on with what they had to do. The Afghans need a bit of direction but they are brave and willing to fight and their enthusiasm goes a long way.
"They did well today, pushing back the insurgents and sending them a pretty clear message that they are not welcome here in Shaheed."