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{{short description|NATO operation in Afghanistan}}
{{About|the NATO operation in Afghanistan|the police investigation of the same name|Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Operation Achilles
| partof            = the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
| image             = 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan (Operation Achilles).jpg
| image_size        = 300
| caption           = 82nd Airborne Division patrol the Ghorak Valley of [[Helmand]] Province in southern Afghanistan during Operation Achilles, March 6.
| date              = March 6 – May 30, 2007
| place             = [[Helmand province]], [[Afghanistan]]
| result            = Tactical Coalition victory
| combatant1        = '''Coalition:'''<br/>{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br>{{flag|United States}}<br>{{Flagicon|Afghanistan|2004}} [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]] <br>{{flag|Denmark}}<br>{{flag|Canada}}<br> {{flag|Netherlands}}<br>{{flag|Poland}}<ref>[http://www.dziennik.pl/article48116/Pierwsza_misja_bojowa_GROM_w_Afganistanie.html Pierwsza misja bojowa GROM w Afganistanie (pl)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114084806/http://www.dziennik.pl/article48116/Pierwsza_misja_bojowa_GROM_w_Afganistanie.html |date=January 14, 2009 }}</ref>
| combatant2        = {{flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban}} [[Taliban]]
| commander1        = {{flagicon|United States}} Gen.[[Dan McNeill]]<br>{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Maj.-Gen. [[Jacko Page]]
| commander2        = {{flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban}} Mullah [[Dadullah]] {{KIA}}<br> {{flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban}} Mullah [[Abdul Qassim]]
| strength1         = {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} 4,200 <br> {{Flagicon|United States}} 1,000<br>{{Flagicon|Afghanistan|2004}} 1,000<br>{{Flagicon|Denmark}} 320<br>{{Flagicon|Canada}} 300<br>{{Flagicon|Netherlands}} 200<br>{{Flagicon|Poland}} 80
| strength2         = 10,000 fighters (Taliban claim)<br>~4,000 insurgents <small>(according to NATO sources)</small>
| casualties1       = {{Flagicon|Afghanistan|2004}} 19 killed<br>{{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} 6 killed<br>{{Flagicon|Canada}} 6 killed<br>{{Flagicon|United States}} 2 killed<br>{{Flagicon|Denmark}} 1 killed<br>{{Flagicon|Netherlands}} 1 killed<br>'''Total''': 35 killed
| casualties2       = Estimated between 750-1,000 killed<br>28 captured
}}
{{Campaignbox Helmand province campaign}}
{{Campaignbox US war in Afghanistan}}
'''Operation Achilles''' was a [[NATO]] operation, part of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]. Its objective was to clear [[Helmand province]] of the [[Taliban]].  The operation began on March 6, 2007. The offensive is the largest [[NATO]]-based operation in [[Afghanistan]] to date. NATO officials reported that, contrary to  previous operations, Taliban fighters were avoiding direct confrontation in favor of [[Guerrilla warfare|guerilla tactics]].

It was led by [[United Kingdom|British]] [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]] forces and focused on the [[Kajakai Dam]] and the towns in the area, which is a major power source for Afghanistan that had not been functioning for a number of years. One part of the mission was [[Operation Volcano]], where British [[Royal Marines]] successfully cleared a large Taliban complex near the Kajakai Dam,<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/MarinesClearTalibanFromKeyAfghanDamvideo.htm Royal Marines clear Taliban from key Afghan dam, UK Ministry of Defence] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213202318/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/MarinesClearTalibanFromKeyAfghanDamvideo.htm |date=February 13, 2007 }}</ref> as well as [[Operation Kryptonite]] which actually saw the clearing of the dam by allied forces.

==Background==
On March 16, U.S. General [[Dan McNeill]] reported that NATO forces were battling insurgents in various places in Southern Afghanistan but that most of the rebel fighters were steering clear of Western troops. He also said that NATO would launch new operations against the Taliban during the spring and summer.

==Operation==
Operation  Volcano, part of Operation Achilles, saw British Royal Marines clear a Taliban base, consisting of 25 compounds, near the Kajaki hydroelectric dam. The Royal Marines received heavy fire from Taliban [[assault rifle]]s, [[machine gun]]s and [[rocket-propelled grenade]]s. The Royal Marines systematically cleared the compounds and buildings, backed up by mortars and air support.<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/MarinesClearTalibanFromKeyAfghanDamvideo.htm Marines clear Taliban from key Afghan dam - UK MoD] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213202318/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/MarinesClearTalibanFromKeyAfghanDamvideo.htm |date=February 13, 2007 }}</ref>

On April 3, [[United States]] and Afghan forces raided a compound in the [[Helmand]] province, after getting a tip-off that a junior Taliban commander was hiding there. Indeed, Taliban forces were present. Heavy fighting broke out, which left at least 10 [[Taliban]] dead and two captured. The coalition had no casualties. The fate of the junior commander remains unknown.<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL175391.htm |title=U.S.-led troops kill 10 Taliban in Afghanistan |publisher=[[Thomson Reuters Foundation News]] |access-date=2014-01-09}}</ref>

On April 30, 1,000 ISAF troops, alongside Afghan National Army ground forces, pushed northwards through the Sangin Valley driving the Taliban from Gereshk and the surrounding villages.<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/OnTheHeelsOfAchillesvideo.htm On the heels of Achilles, UK Ministry of Defence] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212145539/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/OnTheHeelsOfAchillesvideo.htm |date=December 12, 2007 }}</ref> It was reported that coalition troops killed more than 130 Taliban fighters, but thousands of Afghans staged a protest saying the victims were civilians. Backed by air support, the Taliban fighters  were killed in two separate battles in the western province of Herat, according to a US military statement. As part of the operation, British Royal Engineers built company sized patrol bases for the Afghan National Security Forces.

The deaths triggered an angry protest - the second in the country in two days - over what local villagers claimed was the killing of civilians. Herat, bordering Iran, had been relatively safe until recently compared with the south and east where the Taliban are most active. Both battles were in the Zerkoh valley, south of Shindand district, where Western troops have a large base, and running into Farah province further south.

A total of 87 Taliban fighters were killed during a 14-hour battle with US-led troops and Afghan forces on Sunday. Another 49 Taliban, including two of their leaders, were killed two days earlier after a group of Taliban fired at a joint coalition and Afghan patrol in another part of the valley. However, local officials said that up to 51 civilians, including women and children, were among the dead.

==February–May timeline==
February: [[Operation Volcano]], a British operation to clear a Taliban base near the Kajaki hydroelectric dam.

May 1: southern Afghanistan NATO Commander Major-General [[Ton van Loon]] of the Netherlands was succeeded by Major-General Jacko Page of the United Kingdom.

May 13: [[Mullah Dadullah (Pakistani Taliban)|Mullah Dadullah Lang]], 2nd in command of the Taliban was killed in a clash with US, Afghan and NATO forces in Helmand Province. He was killed after coalition forces and Afghan forces found him leaving his hideout. Mullah Dadullah was the most experienced Commander the Taliban had at the time of his death.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/05/13/nato_confirms_death_of_taliban_commander.html|title=NATO confirms death of Taliban commander|agency=Associated Press|date=2007-05-13|work=The Toronto Star|access-date=2017-11-13|language=en-CA|issn=0319-0781}}</ref>

May 18: Airstrikes targeted a convoy of suspected Taliban militants who had left a meeting in western Afghanistan, killing 14 and wounding 10, a provincial governor reported.

May 21: Taliban militants ambushed a joint U.S.coalition and Afghan patrol in a southern town near Helmand, sparking a battle and airstrikes that killed 25 suspected insurgents, U.S.officials said.

May 30: Operation Achilles ended and the new [[Operation Pickaxe-Handle|Operation Lastay Kulang]] began.<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/UkledOperationHelpsIsafTakeControlInNorthernHelmandvideo.htm UK-led operation helps ISAF take control in northern Helmand, UK Ministry of Defence] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607001052/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/UkledOperationHelpsIsafTakeControlInNorthernHelmandvideo.htm |date=June 7, 2007 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070307/ap_on_re_as/afghan_violence ''Commander: Taliban ready to battle NATO''; Rahim Faiez; yahoo.com]
* [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A23DDDF1-45E1-4240-B433-34FD5BA34FEC.htm ''NATO launches Taliban offensive'' - Al Jazeera English] On May 6, Taliban said they had kidnapped a [[United Kingdom|Briton]] and two [[Afghanistan|Afghans]] in [[Helmand]]. Unconfirmed media reports said the kidnapped people were [[journalist]]s.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070313140805/http://www2.hq.nato.int/isaf/update/press_releases/newsrelease/2007/pr070306-149.htm NATO press release about the operation]

{{Military operations in the war in Afghanistan}}
{{Afghanistan War|state=collapsed}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Achilles}}
[[Category:2007 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:History of Helmand Province]]
[[Category:NATO operations in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United States]]
[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving Canada]]
[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving Denmark]]
[[Category:Military operations involving dams]]