Combat Outpost Keating

Battle of Kamdesh
Part of the war in Afghanistan (2001–2014)
A Chinook helicopter lands at Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, in March 2007
Date October 3, 2009 Location Kamdesh, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan 35°25′23″N 71°19′48″E / 35.423°N 71.330°E / 35.423; 71.330Coordinates: 35°25′23″N 71°19′48″E / 35.423°N 71.330°E / 35.423; 71.330 Result Indecisive *Tactical Coalition victory *Strategic Taliban victory
Belligerents
United States  Afghanistan  Latvia	Taliban insurgents
Commanders and leaders
Curtis Scaparrotti COL Randy George (4-4ID [TF Mountain Warrior]) LTC Robert Brown (3-61 CAV [TF Destroyer]) CPT Stoney Portis (B Trp, 3-61 CAV) CPT Agris Liepins (Latvian Army commander)	Dost Muhammed Sirajuddin Haqqani Ghulan Faroq Abdul-Rahman Mustaghni
Strength
60 (US) 2 (Latvia)	300
Casualties and losses
8 killed, 27 wounded (US); 4 killed (ANA)	150 killed
Kamdesh Location of Kamdesh in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan

Dost Muhammed
Sirajuddin Haqqani
Ghulan Faroq

The Battle of Kamdesh took place during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014). It occurred on October 3, 2009, when a force of 300 Taliban assaulted the American Combat Outpost ("COP") Keating near the town of Kamdesh of Nuristan province in eastern Afghanistan. The attack was the bloodiest battle for US forces since the Battle of Wanat in July 2008, which occurred 20 miles (32 km) away from Kamdesh. The attack on COP Keating resulted in 8 Americans killed and 27 wounded whilst the Taliban suffered an estimated 150 killed.

As a result of the battle, COP Keating was partially overrun and nearly completely destroyed.Observation Post ("OP") Fritsche was attacked simultaneously, limiting available support from that position. The Coalition forces withdrew from the base shortly after the battle. A deliberate withdrawal had been planned some time before the battle began, and the closing was part of a wider effort by the top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to cede remote outposts and consolidate troops in more populated areas to better protect Afghan civilians. The Americans "declared the outpost closed and departed—so quickly that they did not carry out all of their stored ammunition. The outpost's depot was promptly looted by the insurgents and bombed by American planes in an effort to destroy the lethal munitions left behind."

After an investigation, four officers in the chain of command were disciplined for their failure to adequately support the base. Eight aviators were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping defend the base. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha and Staff Sergeant Ty Carter were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle.

The Kamdesh believed the key to anti-coalition militia required access to supply lines and to extend government control by 2006, was to build provincial reconstruction team bases. The Allies hoped that extending these bases into Nuristan, one of the most remote and isolated eastern provinces in Afghanistan, they could demonstrate to the entire Afghan population the government's credibility and power. These bases were a key element of the American counterinsurgency strategy. This approach was supported by the stationing of Navy Commander Kimberly Evans, a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) leader in the First Lady’s box at the 2006 State of the Union address.