Nangarhar Offensive (2016)

The Nangarhar Offensive was a 21-day military offensive in February and March 2016, carried out by the Afghan government against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), with the assistance of ISAF and U.S airstrikes. When the offensive ended, ISIL had reportedly lost all of its territory in Afghanistan and had been expelled from the country.[6]

Nangarhar Offensive (2016)
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Date14 February - 6 March 2016
(3 weeks)
Location
mainly in eastern Nangarhar Province (Achin District, Shinwar District and Kot District), Afghanistan
Result

Afghan victory

  • ANA managed to recapture 22 villages and pushes ISIL 8 kilometres back[1]
  • ISIL loses almost all of its territory in Afghanistan but returned later
Belligerents

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Supported by:
RS:

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Commanders and leaders
Ashraf Ghani
(President of Afghanistan)
Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai
(Acting Defense Minister)
Haji Ghalib
(military chief in Achin)
Brigadier Gen. Mohammad Nasim Sangin		 Unknown
Units involved

Afghan National Army

  • 4th Battalion
 Unknown
Strength
Unknown 2,500 - 4,000[2][3]
Casualties and losses
Unknown[4] 200+ killed 100+ injured[5]
Dozens of civilians killed

Background

ISIL-K was formed in January 2015 after the group pledged its allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Islamic State. Early estimates of membership ranged from around 60 to 70 with most fighters coming across the border from Pakistan. Within the first year, membership had grown to between 1,000 and 3,000 militants,[7] mainly defectors from the Afghan and the Pakistani Taliban. Their territory was generally confined to the Nangarhar Province.[7][8]

In January 2016, the U.S. government sent a directive to The Pentagon which granted new legal authority for the U.S. military to go on the offensive against ISIL-K. For 3 weeks in January the U.S. military carried out at least a dozen operations, including raids by special operations forces and airstrikes, many of these taking place in the Tora Bora region of Nangarhar Province. American commanders believe that between 90 and 100 Islamic State militants had been killed in these operations.[9] On 1 February, U.S. airstrikes in Nangarhar province killed 29 ISIS fighters and struck the terrorist group's FM radio station.[10] By 11 February, ABC news reported the U.S. military had carried out 20 airstrikes on ISIS in eastern Afghanistan in the previous 3 weeks.[11]

The offensive

The offensive began on 14 February, when Afghan soldiers with the aide of US drone strikes managed to kill at least 28 ISIL militants in Kot and Achin districts. During the attacks, two civilians were killed.[12] Four days later, Afghan security forces continued their operations pushing ISIL back into Achin, killing a number of fighters.[13]

On 21 February, Afghan security forces under the lead of Brigadier Gen. Mohammad Nasim Sangin captured the Achin district.[14] On 22 February, Afghan security forces reportedly killed 18 ISIS militants, whilst a further 25 ISIS militants were killed in a drone strike as they were preparing to attack an Afghan security posts in the Pekha Khwar area of Achin district; additionally, a large quantity of weapons and ammunition belonging to the terrorist group was destroyed.[15][16]

The operation was aided by local civilians who set up checkpoints to help maintain security in their villages. The fighters later supplemented the Afghan government forces in a more active combat role.[17]

On 6 March the Afghan president claimed that government forced had successfully recaptured all Afghan territory held by ISIL. The final battle took place in the Shinwar District on the previous day. Afghan government sources reported that at least 200 ISIL fighters had been killed in the fighting.[18][19][20] On the same day, a U.S. Drone strike in the Achin district reportedly killed 15 Islamic State militants.[21]

Aftermath

On March 15, 2016, an official confirmed that IS militants had moved north from Nangarhar into Chahar Dara district of Kunduz province.[22] ISIL-K still has a small presence in one of Nangarhar's districts and is confined to it[23] and on March 16, 2016, they attacked an Afghan police checkpoint in the province.[24]

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References
  1. "Afghanistan villagers describe life under ISIL's rule -Aljazeera News". www.aljazeera.com. 23 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  2. "Islamic State group loyalists eye a presence in Afghanistan - Yahoo News". News.yahoo.com. 8 September 2015. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  3. "On the front line of Afghanistan's battle with ISIL -Aljazeera News". www.aljazeera.com. 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  4. "Afghan Forces Dislodge Islamic State From Eastern Stronghold". the wall street journal. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  5. "Nearly 300 ISIS loyalists killed, wounded as operations conclude in Nangarhar - Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency". Khaama.com. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  6. "Afghan retreat from key areas stokes instability fears". Taipei Times. 29 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  7. "How IS has been making enemies in Afghanistan". bbc. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  8. "State Department lists Islamic State's 'Khorasan Province' as Foreign Terrorist Organization". the long war journal. 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  9. "U.S. Broadens Fight Against ISIS With Attacks in Afghanistan". the new York times. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  10. "Afghan official: U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS radio station, kill 29 militants". CNN. 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  11. "US Airstrikes Target Islamic State in Afghanistan". abc news. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  12. Gul, Ayaz. "US Drones, Afghan Forces Kill 28 IS Fighters". Voanews.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  13. Ghazi, Zabihullah (19 February 2016). "Battle for Achin Rages On; Afghan Govt. Reports Dozens of Militants Killed". Voanews.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  14. Khan, Habib (21 February 2016). "Afghan Forces Dislodge Islamic State From Eastern Stronghold". WSJ.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  15. "Officials: Forces kill 43 Islamic State militants in eastern Afghanistan". Stars and Stripes. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  16. "ISIS In Afghanistan: US Airstrikes, Afghan Forces Target Islamic State Group In Eastern Nangarhar". international business times. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  17. "Afghan President: IS Being Wiped out in Afghanistan". ABC news. 6 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  18. Faiez, Rahim (23 February 2016). "Afghan president: Islamic State being wiped out in Afghanistan". Stripes.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  19. "Afghanistan president says Islamic State being wiped out in his country". Chicago Tribune. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  20. Gul, Ayaz (31 December 2015). "Ghani: IS Loyalists Uprooted in Afghanistan". Voanews.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  21. "Drone strike kills Islamic State militants in Afghanistan". Stars and Stripes. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  22. "Afghan president: ISIS is 'on the run' in Afghanistan". military times. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  23. "Official Says ISIL Contained, Taliban Fracturing in Afghanistan". Department of Defence. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  24. "NATO chief predicts another tough year ahead for Afghanistan". militarytimes. 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.

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