Fall of Sangin

In January, Taliban fighters launched a strong attack against government positions in Sangin, killing more than 100 soldiers and police officers, but they were driven back with help from extra troops and airstrikes. Officials said the fighters used tunnels from private houses to reach front-line government checkpoints.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/taliban-forces-seize-strategic-district-in-embattled-helmand-province/2017/03/23/6564c6ce-0fa3-11e7-9b0d-d27c98455440_story.html|title=Afghan forces withdraw from key district in embattled Helmand province|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=23 March 2017}} Also on 31 January, 19 Taliban fighters were killed and 25 others wounded. Two Afghan service members were killed and as many wounded during the clashes.{{cite news|url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/01/31/19-militants-killed-25-injured-sangin-battle|title=19 militants killed, 25 injured in Sangin battle|publisher=Pajhwok News|date=31 January 2017 |last1=Stanikzai |first1=Zainullah }}

On 2 February, at least 32 Taliban insurgents were killed, including three commanders and 40 wounded during an attack on a military base in Sangin district during the past four days, provincial governor's office said in a statement.{{cite web|url=http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/32-taliban-insurgents-killed-sangin-clash|title=32 Taliban Insurgents Killed in Sangin Clash|publisher=Tolonews|date=2 February 2017}} On 11 February, Helmand governor Hayatullah Hayat said at least 60 Taliban insurgents were killed at night in security operations backed foreign air forces, which caused civilians casualties.{{cite news|url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/02/11/60-taliban-killed-sangin-airstrike-says-governor|title=60 Taliban killed in Sangin airstrike, says governor|publisher=Pajhwok News|date=11 February 2017 |last1=Stanikzai |first1=Zainullah }} Later, the United Nations mission in Afghanistan said that US airstrikes in Sangin occurred on 9 and 10 February and initial inquiries suggest that the airstrikes killed at least 18 civilians, nearly all women and children.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-afghanistan-airstrikes-20170213-story.html|title=A U.S. airstrike may have killed 18 civilians, 'nearly all women and children,' UN report says|date=13 February 2017|work=Los Angeles Times}}

The area around Sangin had been a hotspot of Taliban activity for several years, and the district itself had seen more British and American marines killed than any other district in Afghanistan.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-helmand-sangin.html?_r=0|title=Taliban Take an Afghan District, Sangin, That Many Marines Died to Keep|newspaper=The New York Times|date=23 March 2017 |access-date=29 March 2017 |last1=Shah |first1=Taimoor |last2=Nordland |first2=Rod }} After enduring repeated insurgent attacks, the government forces tasked with defending the town reportedly withdrew overnight, enabling the Taliban to take control early in the morning of 23 March.{{cite news|last=Azami |first=Dawood |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39366111 |title=Why Sangin's fall to the Taliban matters |work=BBC News |date=23 March 2017 |access-date=29 March 2017}}

Since the town lies on a key road into Lashkar Gar, the loss of Sangin has been interpreted as a major setback for the Afghan government, potentially paving the way for further Taliban advances in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1322905 |title=Fall of Sangin - Newspaper |website=Dawn.com |date=25 February 2017 |access-date=29 March 2017}} Colonel Richard Kemp, who previously commanded British forces in Afghanistan, said that British and American troops "should have remained in Afghanistan in much greater numbers to see them through the very dangerous transition period for longer".{{cite web|author=Raf Sanchez |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/23/taliban-captures-sangin-afghan-town-100-uk-soldiers-died/ |title=Russia 'may be helping supply Taliban', says US general, as militants capture strategic district of Sangin |website=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 March 2017 |access-date=29 March 2017}} Immediately after the withdrawal in March, Sangin police chief Mohammad Rasoul had stated that security forces were preparing "reinforcements to recapture the district", although no significant reported action has taken place. In April 2017, a deployment of 300 US Marines began arriving in the region, at Camp Shorabak (formerly Camp Bastion), in a non-combative support role for the ANA 215th Corps, including "following them onto the battlefield".

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{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/30/it-feels-like-groundhog-day-us-marines-return-to-helmand-province-afghanistan |title='It feels like Groundhog Day': US Marines return to Helmand province |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 April 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}}

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Category:2017 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Category:Battles in 2017

Category:March 2017 in Afghanistan

Category:21st century in Helmand Province

Category:Sieges of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Category:Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United States

Category:Battles involving the Taliban

Category:2010s sieges

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