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British and Afghan troops in combat operations
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| Wednesday,
February 8, 2012, 08:36 AM |
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| British
and Afghan army troops in joint operations Rozi Roshan or "Bright Day". |
More
than 280 British army troops joined forces with 690 soldiers from the
Afghan National Army (ANA) and patrolmen from the Afghan National Police
to clear insurgents from the area north of the bustling town of Gereshk
in Nahr-e Saraj district. Making this commercial hub secure is a priority
for Afghan forces in the coming year and has become the main focus for
current operations. |
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Afghan National Army soldiers on patrol during Operation ROZI ROSHAN
[Picture: Sergeant Mark Nesbit RLC, Crown Copyright/British MOD 2012]
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Nahr-e
Saraj is one of the three districts in Helmand where British troops are
deployed - and the last where Task Force Helmand retains the lead for
security following the transition of Nad 'Ali and Lashkar Gah.
Operation ROZI ROSHAN, or 'Bright Day', was planned by Afghan National
Army staff and led by Brigadier General Sherin Shah, Commander of the
3rd Brigade of 215 Corps.
It is the third major ANA operation in three months and is part of a larger
Nahr-e Saraj security plan called Operation SHAMALI KAMARBAND.
Troops from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) advised
Afghan soldiers and headquarters staff throughout the operation, which
saw Afghan engineers, advised by sappers from 35 and 38 Engineer Regiments,
build six new checkpoints to protect a transit route between Gereshk and
the town of Rahim Kalay.
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A British soldier near Husky
armoured vehicle observes the controlled detonation of an improvised
explosive device unearthed by Afghan National Army soldiers and destroyed
by Afghan explosive ordnance disposal technicians
[Picture: Corporal Timothy L Solano, Crown Copyright/British MOD 2012]
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The ANA's 3/215
Brigade is mentored by 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES), and Riflemen
from 2 RIFLES joined their Afghan colleagues on the ground alongside
troops from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, the Queen's Royal
Hussars, the Royal Engineers, and the Danish Army, whose troops are
responsible for security in the area.
The soldiers on the ground were also boosted by counter-improvised explosive
device teams, search dogs and intelligence and surveillance capabilities.
Afghan warriors reported finding over 40 IEDs and component parts which
were destroyed by the ANA's own bomb disposal specialists - the explosive
ordnance disposal operators and explosive hazard reduction teams.
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Soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Rifles and the Danish Battle Group begin
a long day of patrolling in Nahr-e Saraj district during Operation ROZI
ROSHAN
[Picture: Corporal Timothy L Solano, Crown Copyright/British MOD 2012]
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Captain Edward Willing,
from 2 RIFLES, said:
"This operation was well-planned and executed and has expanded
the security bubble north of Gereshk.
"This has, yet again, demonstrated the ANA's ability to conduct
large and complex independent operations in conjunction with the Afghan
Police with only limited support from ISAF."
Brigadier General Shah said:
"The ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] are ready to provide
security for the people of this area.
"My message to those who are fighting against our government is
to come and join the peace process, as this can be the only solution."
Brigadier Patrick Sanders, the Commander of the British-led Task Force
Helmand, said the operation was a vital step towards providing security
in the area. He said:
"This was the
second major operation conceived, planned and led by Afghan forces in
the space of a month and follows the success of Operation ZAMESTAANI
PEEROZI.
"Task Force Helmand personnel were deployed in a supporting and
advisory role in each of these operations, which have both demonstrated
the significant capabilities of the Afghan security forces.
"Afghan forces are applying significant pressure to the insurgents
throughout the winter.
"The checkpoints built as a result of this operation will increase
security in the local area and pave the way for Afghan forces to take
on responsibility for security in the future."
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