Black Watch hits rebel stronghold in daring assault

Published on Wednesday 30 September 2009 22:35

SCOTS troops smashed one of the largest insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan in a daring night-time assault, it has been disclosed.

Hundreds of soldiers from the Black Watch swooped on the enemy base in Kandahar Province where they uncovered explosives factories and destroyed an intricate network of tunnels.

After intense fire-fights, the troops also discovered an "Aladdin's cave" of ammunition, including a grenade launcher and motorbikes rigged as suicide bombs.

Afghan fighters and Canadian experts on IEDs (improvised explosive devices) assisted in the operation in the Zhari district on 14 September, the Ministry of Defence said.

Black Watch commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright said the raid's impact would be felt throughout the area.

He said: "We have badly damaged their IED-making capacity in this important area of Kandahar province and destroyed their defensive positions.

"Above all, the combination of the canny Jock on the ground and surveillance from the air has delivered a physical and psychological blow to the insurgents' credibility in what they consider to be their safe haven."

The strike began when three waves of six Chinook helicopters swooped into Howz-e-Maded in the early hours, landing almost within touching distance of enemy positions.

Heavy fighting followed, with helicopters and unmanned drones co-ordinated by a team from 40 Regiment, Royal Artillery firing from above. The troops found a network of bunkers, trenches and tunnels. The buildings had sniper positions with weapons nearby.

Major Matt Munro, Officer Commanding, Alpha (Grenadier) Company, said the operation was an "unqualified success". The 37-year-old, from Inverness, said: "The plan was audacious – we assaulted from helicopters literally into the insurgents' backyard."

One Alpha Company soldier was injured by an IED device.