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HomeNewsTF Iron conducts air assault to stop insurgent attacks

TF Iron conducts air assault to stop insurgent attacks

Written by By U.S. Army 1st Lt. R.J. Peek
3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division

Fort Campbell KY, 101st Airborne Division187th Infantry Regiment - Iron RakkasansGhazni Province, Afghanistan – Task Force Iron Rakkasans continue thwart insurgent activities as three platoons took part in an air assault operation into Shamshay Village, Andar District, here October 29th. 

Shamshay Village is a frequently used staging area for insurgent attacks against coalition forces as well as Afghan National Security Forces. Intelligence reports targeted several houses as commonly used bed-down locations for insurgent leaders.

Soldiers from 1st Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, were the first into the village and rapidly cleared the north side of Shamshay and established blocking positions to prevent the insurgent leaders from fleeing. 2nd Platoon, B Company, and 3rd Platoon, C Company, were immediately behind 1st Platoon. Along with the Afghan National Army, they completed the isolation of the village and began systematic searching of the suspected insurgent locations.

The overwhelming numbers of American and Afghan forces in the village prevented the insurgents from coordinating a counter attack, the historical tactic of the enemy in eastern Ghazni. Instead, they relied on sporadic fire from the surrounding area.

The Soldiers of 2nd Platoon, B Company, attempted to maneuver on the enemy. However, their progress was hindered by terrain and a rapidly approaching storm system. Visibility was reduced to 100 meters due to the combination of sand and rain at the same time.

“It’s unfortunate that the storm moved in as quickly as it did,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Matthew Ward from Herndon, VA, platoon leader of 2nd Platoon, B Company. “Storms like this one are rare, and we don’t expect to be so hindered on the next operation.”

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