Operation Achilles

Operation Achilles
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

82nd Airborne Division patrol the Ghorak Valley of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan during Operation Achilles, March 6.
DateMarch 6 – May 30, 2007
Location
Result Tactical Coalition victory
Belligerents
Coalition:
 United Kingdom
 United States
Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
 Denmark
 Canada
 Netherlands
 Poland[1]
Afghanistan Taliban
Commanders and leaders
United States Gen.Dan McNeill
United Kingdom Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page
Afghanistan Mullah Dadullah  
Afghanistan Mullah Abdul Qassim
Strength
United Kingdom 4,200
United States 1,000
Afghanistan 1,000
Denmark 320
Canada 300
Netherlands 200
Poland 80
10,000 fighters (Taliban claim)
~4,000 insurgents (according to NATO sources)
Casualties and losses
Afghanistan 19 killed
United Kingdom 6 killed
Canada 6 killed
United States 2 killed
Denmark 1 killed
Netherlands 1 killed
Total: 35 killed
Estimated between 750-1,000 killed
28 captured

Operation Achilles was a NATO operation, part of the War in Afghanistan. Its objective was to clear Helmand province of the Taliban. The operation began on March 6, 2007. The offensive is the largest NATO-based operation in Afghanistan to date. NATO officials reported that, contrary to previous operations, Taliban fighters were avoiding direct confrontation in favor of guerilla tactics.

It was led by British ISAF forces and focused on the Kajakai Dam and the towns in the area, which is a major power source for Afghanistan that had not been functioning for a number of years. One part of the mission was Operation Volcano, where British Royal Marines successfully cleared a large Taliban complex near the Kajakai Dam,[2] as well as Operation Kryptonite which actually saw the clearing of the dam by allied forces.