Small Wars Journal

Report Details Attack on GIs in Afghanistan

Sun, 11/09/2008 - 10:12am
Report Details Attack on GIs in Afghanistan - Kent Harris and Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes

The Army's official report on the July battle in Afghanistan that killed nine paratroops and wounded 27 others is filled with details of heroism, desperation and a calculated risk gone wrong.

It begins with the decision to close down an "extremely vulnerable" combat outpost nearby and relocate to Wanat, a move discussed by the brigade for more than a year.

Ten months of coordination with Afghan officials about the land allowed militants to plan an attack "that only required refinement once the land was occupied."

On July 9, in the early morning darkness, the US troops and 24 Afghan paratroops established the vehicle patrol base.

Each day, locals warned the US troops of an impending attack.

"There was intelligence an attack would occur," the report found, "but this was to be expected for the Waygal District."

Troops expected a "probing attack" of around 20 militants. Instead, at around 4:20 a.m., the force of 200 enemy launched a complex, well-organized attack that first targeted the troops' heavy weapons.

More at Stars and Stripes.

CJTF-101 Report Dated 13 August 2008 - Part 1

CJTF-101 Report Dated 13 August 2008 - Part 2