Operation Karez
And other irregular
Lieutenant Colonel Kjell Inge Bækken
60 German soldiers unknown Afghan soldiers
Unknown number of Pashtun settlers
Unknown number of Taliban prisoners
Operation Karez was a military company German and Norwegian ISAF forces in conjunction with allied Afghan forces in northern Afghanistan to push back insurgent Taliban. Between 13 and 23 May 2008, in the Regional Command North, provided by the Norwegian Quick Reaction Force ( QRF ) fought insurgents in Badghis and Faryab regions that had increasingly perpetrated attacks on ISAF troops and Afghan security forces since the end of 2007.
Operation Karez was the second offensive operation German and Norwegian troops within half a year in the western area of the Regional Command North.
Starting position
After the operation Harekate Yolo contributed from October to November 2007 would push back the always occurring massive Taliban, insurgents, to reorganize itself in the mountainous regions of the Hindu Kush. By their presence they prevented international aid agencies from the reconstruction in the Badghis promote the region and to provide the civilian population. They also blocked parts of the interconnecting all of Afghanistan 's ring road and thus cut the north-west from the rest of the country.
This prompted the Regional Command North, led by the German Brigadier General Dieter Dammjacob to the stationed in Mazar -e Sharif quick operational reserve (English: short Quick Reaction Force QRF ) to draw up the fight against irregular forces.
Course of the operation
The company started in early May with the laying of the Norwegian Telemark Battalion after Cor -i Karez and preparation for the offensive. On May 13, the QRF force was attacked by units of the equipped with small arms and anti-tank weapons and Taliban said the attack successfully. Between 14 and 16 May, the Norwegians involved their opponents in two large-scale ranged attacks with the help of CV- 9030 - infantry fighting vehicles, mortars and close air support. The operation ended on 23 May with the relocation of the QRF to Mazar -e Sharif.
Participation of the Bundeswehr and the importance of the operation
The Bundestag mandate restricts the deployment of the Bundeswehr in the normal case to the northern area of Afghanistan. To participate in companies outside the German area of responsibility, the Bundeswehr needs express permission of the Minister of Defence. Although the German side, the participation of KSK forces, reconnaissance and logistics elements were promised in advance of the operation, the Ministry of Defence ( FMOD ) legitimized only on 15 May, ie during the current offensive, the use of 45 to 60 German soldiers, priority management support staff, logisticians and medics. The German government was concerned to extend the use of parts of the quota on the Ghormach district in the Italian sector. The German use was established by the FMOD with the cancellation by Italian and Spanish troops, which in turn at the same time by the ISAF a request to support the Allies were in the south and were bound there.
Results
Neither ISAF nor the Afghan security forces had to mourn losses during the operation. Operation Karez was the largest offensive companies in the Norwegian armed forces in northwestern Afghanistan. Although accurate information is missing, it is assumed 13 to 15 Taliban fighters killed.
On 1 July 2008 the leadership of the rapid deployment of reserve of the Regional Command North, was passed by the Norwegians to the German Army.