It was a bloodbath, with green caps surrounded by a Taliban "tide" for a firefight that lasted over an hour. The United States, in a classified operation that took place in Afghanistan, lost an operator of special units while two others were seriously injured. Their mission is shrouded in mystery, with the Pentagon refusing to explain why those units were in action in the city of Marja, in the restless province of Helmand, in Afghanistan.
Despite the lessons of a past still alive in memories, the one that took place a few hours ago is reminiscent of the operation Redwings, with the same Pentagon evaluation errors. This time, only by a miracle, the operation did not turn into a massacre for the USA.
The mission that took place a few hours ago is classified. This means that even the closest relatives of the dead soldier will never know the dynamics that took his life.
We know a team of US special departments (almost certainly green caps), in support of a small Afghan unit, was located near the city of Marja. At first it was assumed a simple advisory role for US soldiers, but almost certainly that unit was in the area on a mission to targeting leader. The information issued by the Pentagon, we repeat, is scarce.
Something seems to have gone wrong immediately. The team is detected by hostile forces within minutes. Unity is found (these are the words used by Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook) "surrounded by a tide of Taliban". Embarrassment during Cook's press conference, considering that the battle was still going on with leaks on the field.
The Pentagon tries to exfiltrate its green caps and allies, sending two HH60 helicopters to the area Pave Hawk. The first cannot even touch the ground due to enemy fire and is forced to return to the base. The second manages to land, but cannot take off due to an artillery barrage coming from Marja. The battle lasts for more than an hour with US and allied forces that manage to resist and leave the area only after the arrival of an AC-130 gunship as a cover. The US loses a green hat operator. Two others are seriously injured. Many Afghan soldiers involved in the operation were also wounded. The dynamics of their involvement are shrouded in mystery.
Officially, the US withdrew regular forces in Helmand province. The last clash confirms the exclusive use of special departments. An invisible force that continues to carry out missions, often as deadly as those of a few hours ago. The dead operator in Marja marks the first fatal US fight in Afghanistan in the new year.
He is the seventh soldier killed in two weeks. On 21 last December, six soldiers were killed just outside Bagram airbase, at 30 miles north of Kabul. The Pentagon is not required to issue details on the operators of the special departments nor can it be obliged to do so. The US plan to withdraw most of its 9.800 troops by the end of the 2016 still remains in effect.
Huge progress has been made against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The last episodes seem to categorically deny these claims.
(photo: US DoD)
