Operation Warrior Sweep
Encyclopedia
Operation Warrior Sweep involved a July 20, 2003 deployment of about 1,000 soldiers of the Afghan National Army
, together with U.S.
-led coalition troops, in the Zormat Valley region and the 3,260 meter-high peaks of the Ayubkhel Valley in the southern Paktia province
in Afghanistan
. The operation was in response to intelligence reports that some Taliban and al-Qaeda
operatives were active in the area. It marked the first major combat operation for the Afghan troops. The Operation was completed in mid-September.
By July 29, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division
were transported in by CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assist in the Operation.
The coalition forces uncovered dozens of grenade
s, C-4 plastic explosives, a crate of dynamite
, more than 20 rocket propelled grenade rounds, a box of anti-aircraft rounds and hundreds of 7.62 mm and handgun rounds.
Neither Taliban nor al-Qaeda
guerrilla
s were encountered. U.S.-led coalition forces cleared illegal checkpoints from a number of key roads, including the main road leading from Gardez to Khost
. The Afghan Army secured the road leading to Zormat.
When U.S.
forces arrived in the village of Atel Mohammed
, residents hid their Qur'an
s and other religious items. They feared that U.S. soldiers would kill them if they discovered they were Muslim
. U.S. soldiers explained to the villagers that this was not the case.
Toward the conclusion of the Operation in mid-September, forces from the United States
, Italy
, Romania
and Afghanistan discovered several secret cave
s and caches containing more than 20,000 pieces of ordnance.
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
, together with U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-led coalition troops, in the Zormat Valley region and the 3,260 meter-high peaks of the Ayubkhel Valley in the southern Paktia province
Paktia Province
Paktia , is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, in the east of the country. Its capital is Gardez. The population is predominantly Pashtun.- History:...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The operation was in response to intelligence reports that some Taliban and al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
operatives were active in the area. It marked the first major combat operation for the Afghan troops. The Operation was completed in mid-September.
By July 29, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division
U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an active airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps....
were transported in by CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assist in the Operation.
The coalition forces uncovered dozens of grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
s, C-4 plastic explosives, a crate of dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
, more than 20 rocket propelled grenade rounds, a box of anti-aircraft rounds and hundreds of 7.62 mm and handgun rounds.
Neither Taliban nor al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
s were encountered. U.S.-led coalition forces cleared illegal checkpoints from a number of key roads, including the main road leading from Gardez to Khost
Khost
Khost or Khowst is a city in eastern Afghanistan. It is the capital of Khost province, which is a mountainous region near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan...
. The Afghan Army secured the road leading to Zormat.
When U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces arrived in the village of Atel Mohammed
Atel Mohammed
Atel Mohammed is a village in the southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan. During Operation Warrior Sweep of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan the inhabitants hid their Qur'ans and other religious tokens fearing the United States soldiers would harm them if they realised they were Muslim, these...
, residents hid their Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
s and other religious items. They feared that U.S. soldiers would kill them if they discovered they were Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. U.S. soldiers explained to the villagers that this was not the case.
Toward the conclusion of the Operation in mid-September, forces from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Afghanistan discovered several secret cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s and caches containing more than 20,000 pieces of ordnance.