Operation Bulldog Bite
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Operation Bulldog Bite | |||||||
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Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Maj. Gen. John Campbelll and COL Joseph Ryan | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | 52-150 killed |
Operation Bulldog Bite was a joint US and Afghan counter-insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan, against Taliban forces that was conducted in November 2010. The operation targeted Taliban havens in the villages of the Watapur District, which lies in the eastern region of the Pech River Valley.[2] The region served as a transit area for Taliban and al Qaeda fighters entering from Pakistan, and is just five miles from the Korangal Valley, an area where US forces had previously shut down combat operations.[2] In 2009, US commanders stated that the valley was strategically insignificant due to its remote location, but the Taliban and al Qaeda would later use the region to launch attacks into neighboring Afghan provinces.[2]
The operation involved several nighttime air assaults against remote mountain villages in the aim of penetrating deep into the Pech River Valley. The 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division along with 1st Battalion and 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment took part in the operation. The death of the first American soldier killed in combat occurred on November 12. Two days later, US troops encountered heavy resistance, and five soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division were killed during a six-hour-long firefight in the Watapur area.[2] US Air Force Pararescue jumpers conducted operations to rescue the wounded and to collect those who were killed in action.[1] Helicopters deployed from the 33rd Rescue Squadron took enemy fire as they hovered above the wounded.[1] Throughout the battle OH-58D Kiowa Warriors provided “Danger Close” CAS support and Apache helicopters came in to assist in the battle firing four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on nearby insurgents in a tag-team of lethal force. When the Apaches ran out of ammunition, an F-18 dropped a 2,000-pound bomb.[1]
By November 25, between 52 and 150 insurgents were reported to have been killed and several large weapons caches were discovered by coalition troops.[2][3][4] The caches contained several mortar systems with rounds, 15 recoilless rifle rounds, more than a dozen rocket-propelled grenades, 20 anti-aircraft rounds, four fragmentary grenades, 400 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 1,200 PKM rounds and improvised explosive components.[2] By this time, six members of the 101st, one Army Ranger, and three soldiers of the Afghan National Army had been killed.[5]
References[]
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Kyle (February 8, 2015), Guardian Angel recounts battle which earned him Silver Star, United States Air Force, retrieved January 18, 2022
- ^ a b c d e f Roggio, Bill (November 18, 2010). "49 Taliban fighters, 6 US troops killed during Kunar operation". The Long War Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ "Pech River Valley operations continue to target insurgents » Clarksville, TN Online". Clarksvilleonline.com. November 25, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- ^ "Bulldog Bites into mountainside: Joint operation clears Pech River Valley". Clarksvilleonline.com. November 30, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- ^ "NATO details Afghan clash that killed 5 Americans". Fox News. November 18, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- Conflicts in 2010
- Conflicts in 2011
- 2010 in Afghanistan
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United States
- Wars involving the Taliban