Attack on Bari Alai

Attack on Bari Alai (2009)
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Destruction at OP Bari Alai (May 1st, 2009)
Date 1 May 2009 Location Observation Post Bari Alai, perimeter of Nishagam Kunar province, Afghanistan Result Taliban success; OP destroyed
Belligerents
ISAF Coalition:  United States  Latvia  Afghanistan	Taliban insurgents
Commanders and leaders
SSG William D. Vile † (US 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division) Seržants Voldemārs Anševics † (1. Kājnieku bataljons)	?
Units involved
United States Army: 6/4 Cavalry 3rd Brigade 1st Infantry Division Latvian Land Forces: 1st Infantry Battalion Afghan National Army	Unknown
Strength
3 (US) 4 (Latvia) 25 (Afghanistan)	~100
Casualties and losses
3 killed (US) 2 killed, 2 wounded (Latvia) 3 killed, 12 captured (Afghanistan)	19 killed

3 killed (US)
2 killed, 2 wounded (Latvia)

The Attack on Bari Alai (Battle of Nishagam) was a Taliban insurgent attack on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Observation Post (OP) Bari Alai in the perimeter of Nishagam in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. The attack was successful in being the first time during the war in Afghanistan, the Taliban had completely overrun a coalition outpost. The Latvian Army suffered the majority of their war casualties at Bari Alai (see Latvian casualties in Afghanistan). Survivors were few with the exception of 2 Latvian soldiers and a number of Afghan troops. The US detachment at the OP (3 in total) were all killed in action.

Observation Post Bari Alai was a joint Afghan and U.S. observation post located in Eastern Afghanistan in Konar Province. OP Bari Alai was established in the spring of 2009 by TF Raider (6/4 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division) and built by members of Marine Embedded Training Team 7-4, following increased attacks against U.S. and Afghan National Army (ANA) forces and civilians transiting north and south along the Konar river valley. OP Bari Alai was named after an ANA soldier who was killed in an IED strike just months before the creation of the OP. The OP was also aimed at providing security to the local district center just below the observation outpost. OP Bari Alai filled a tactically critical role in the Kunar River valley. It was located outside the strategic village of Nishagam in Kunar Province, eastern Afghanistan. At the time of the attack of May 1st 2009, OP Bari Alai was occupied by 7 ISAF personnel, which included four Latvians from a rifle company of the (Latvian) 1st Infantry Battalion 1st Kajnieku and two Americans of Company B Special Troops, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, plus a US warrant officer assigned to the 1st Brigade, Military Transition Team. Staff Sergeant William D. Vile was the adviser/supervisor for the 25 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, which included one interpreter.

In the early hours on May 1, 2009 a estimated 100 Taliban insurgents launched a semi-coordinated uphill assault on OP Bari Alai, a tactically critical, fortified mountaintop outpost that overlooks the convergence of the Hel Gal, Durin, Marin, and Kunar River Valleys, as well as a bridge that spans the Kunar River. While Taliban fighters pinned down coalition troops with machine gun fire, their comrades scaled the mountainsides and advanced on the post. The assault began with a barrage of exchanged small-arms fire from insurgent positions surrounding the base while a second group split off and scaled the mountains that peaked above Bari Alai, strafing the outpost with grenade and explosive launched fire. The first casualty was a US Army Staff Sergeant William D. Vile, who was hit by incoming hostile gunfire but was able to reach his subordinates to call for reinforcements and artillery support before he was killed by an explosive penetrating round. He was subsequently awarded the Silver Star Medal for his act of battlefield valor. The outer perimeter of the base was breached when US Sergeant James D. Pirtle was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Taliban attackers cut through barb wire on the perimeter and rushed into the camp. Specialist Ryan C. King took cover with the remaining Latvian soldiers returning the fire from their positions. Latvian Pfc. dizkareivis Andrejs Merkuševs fell dead by a stray bullet. King soon followed along with Latvian Sgt. Voldemārs Anševics who was killed by a grenade blast that gravely wounded a third Latvian soldier. Sgt. Anševics and Pfc. Merkuševs were posthumously awarded the Cross of the Order of Viesturs by Latvian Defense Minister Imants Lieģis. The base was overun within the hour by the roughly one hundred Taliban insurgents. In all, 3 US, 3 Afghan, 2 Latvian soldiers died. At least 19 Taliban bodies were found near the attack site. A further 12 Afghan soldiers were taken prisoner while 2 Latvian soldiers avoided capture. When Coalition reinforcements flew up to the outpost that morning, they found it destroyed and on fire, the survivors half buried in the rubble. The insurgents took off with the captured Afghan soldiers eventually gardening their release untouched six days later after coalition radio commissions told them to give them up.

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