September 2012 raid on Camp Bastion

31°30′45″N 64°07′53″E / 31.5124°N 64.1315°E / 31.5124; 64.1315

September 2012 raid on Camp Bastion
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Marines from VMA-211 at Camp Bastion, two weeks before the attack.
Date14 September 2012 (2012-09-14)
Location
Belligerents

ISAF /  NATO:

Afghanistan Taliban
Commanders and leaders
MG. Charles Gurganus
MG. Gregg Sturdevant
Lt. Col Christopher Raible 
Sqn Ldr. Kev McMurdo
Capt. Jeff Portlock
SGT. Roy Geddes (WIA)
Unknown
Units involved
United States American:
MALS-16 (FWD)
MWSS-273
MWSS-373
VMM-161
HMH-361
VMA-211
HMLA-469
United Kingdom British:
No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
Tonga Tonga:
Tongan contingent
Afghanistan Unknown
Strength
Several hundred with Anglo-American air support 15 fighters
Casualties and losses
2 killed
17 wounded
9 aircraft destroyed or severely damaged
14 killed
1 captured

The September 2012 raid on Camp Bastion was a Taliban raid on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province on the night of 14 September 2012.[1] The base hosted British, American, Danish and Tongan military personnel at the time of the attack. The Taliban fighters killed two U.S. Marines and destroyed or severely damaged eight U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and a United States Air Force C-130 before the entire raiding force was killed or captured. The Taliban claimed that the raid was in response to the film, Innocence of Muslims, and have also stated that Prince Harry, who was stationed at the base at the time, was the target of the attack.[2] To replace the aircraft lost in the attack, the USMC deployed 14 Harriers to Afghanistan 36 hours after the raid.[3]

  1. ^ Rubin, Alissa (16 September 2012). "Audacious Raid on NATO Base Shows Taliban's Reach". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Taliban take credit for British base attack". Al Jazeera. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  3. ^ Majumdar, Dave (10 October 2012). "Marines surged Harriers to Afghanistan within 36 hours of attack". The DEW Line. Retrieved 14 October 2012.