Siege of Sangin

Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014)

A British patrol in Sangin.

Date	27 June 2006 – 5 April 2007
Location	Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Result	Coalition victory.

Belligerents

Coalition:

United Kingdom,
Relief force:

United Kingdom,

Canada,

United States,

Denmark,

Estonia,

Netherlands,

Afghan National Army

Taliban insurgents

Commanders and leaders

Stuart Tootal

Tor Jan,

Haji Nika

Strength

120-150 British soldiers (DC garrison), 1,000 ISAF relief forces

Unknown

Casualties and losses

9 killed (UK)

Varying estimates: "Dozens to several hundred" killed

The Siege of Sangin was a military engagement which occurred between June 2006 and April 2007, between Taliban insurgents and the British Army. In the engagement the district centre of Sangin District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, was occupied by the British forces and was completely surrounded by the Taliban fighters. At one point fighting became intensive, causing General David J. Richards, the NATO commander in Afghanistan, to declare that Helmand province had seen the fiercest fighting involving British troops since the Korean War. It became emblematic of the difficulty of the mission being carried out by British soldiers in Afghanistan, who nicknamed it "Sangingrad" (in reference to the Battle of Stalingrad).

Sangin, a town of 30,000 inhabitants in Helmand province, is situated in a "green zone", a fertile agricultural area. It is well known for opium production and Taliban activity. The opposition to the Afghan government and to the presence of foreign troops came from a mix of Taliban, local tribesmen and drug traffickers, who were afraid that ISAF troops might destroy their opium poppy crops. Before the British deployment, the area was believed to be under complete Taliban control.

Several incidents involving coalition troops had already occurred in that sector: on June 13, a U.S. convoy was ambushed north of Sangin, on the road to Musa Qala.A Company, 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, were called into the town to protect the convoy, but they withdrew after only 24 hours presence.

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Wikipedia