Nawzad, Afghanistan

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Nawzad
Nawzad in June 2009
Nawzad in June 2009
Nawzad is located in Afghanistan
Nawzad
Nawzad
Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  Afghanistan
Province Helmand Province
District Nawzad District
Elevation 4,006 ft (1,221 m)
Time zone UTC+4:30

Nawzad (also Now Zad) is a small town, the centre of Nawzad District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at an altitude of 1221 metres ASL.

Conflict

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During the early post-Taliban years, the town thrived, helped by irrigation from the Helmand and Arghandab Valley Authority.[1] People came for miles to its bazaar; the United Nations even began building a school. But by early 2007, the estimated 10,000 civilian population, including Nawzad's police force, had fled, driven out by violence from returning Taliban insurgents.[2]

In the years following, Nawzad became a ghost town and British, Gurkha, and Estonian forces only managed to maintain a stalemate in the region. Now Zad became one of the most bitterly contested districts since British forces first moved into Helmand in 2006.

In December 2007 a small force of a British Army OMLT (Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team) with 7 soldiers drawn from 26 Regiment, Royal Artillery & 151 (London) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps who were mentoring a company of approximately 70 ANA soldiers supported by 14 soldiers from US Special Forces Task Force 232 deployed from Camp Shorabak. The task was to provide a diversion for the upcoming Operation Mar Karadad (the re-taking of Musa Qualeh). This was done by mounting a deliberate attack on Nipple Compound, a Taliban compound to the south of Now Zad.

In 2008, U.S. Marines arrived to replace the British and Estonian contingents. However, as of June 2009, the Marines seemed to have come to a similar standstill with the Taliban insurgents.[2]

In December 2009, U.S. Marines launched a new assault with 1,000 troops and several 70-ton assault breacher vehicles. They reported to have pressed into a remote Taliban stronghold during the joint American-British Operation "Cobra's Anger".[3][4]

See also

References

  1. (pdf) The Helmand Valley Project in Afghanistan: A.I.D. Evaluation Special Study No. 18 C Clapp-Wicek & E Baldwin, U.S. Agency for International Development, published December 1983
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/07/world/la-fg-afghan-ghost-town7-2010mar07
  4. "U.S. Marines advance in southern Afghanistan"