Battle of Garmsir

Battle of Garmsir
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
US Marines with Bravo 1/6, 24th MEU in Garmsir, Afghanistan, May 2008
Date April – 8 September 2008[1] 2009–2011 Location Helmand province in Afghanistan Result Both sides claim victory [1]
Belligerents
Coalition: United States United Kingdom Estonia Islamic Republic of Afghanistan	Taliban
Commanders and leaders
LtCol Tony Henderson	Naeem Baraikh, shadow governor Maulavi Ubaidurrahman Nurzai
Strength
Approx. 800 Marines	Unknown

The Battle of Garmsir (also Garmser) was a battle between United States Marines and other ISAF coalition forces, and Taliban insurgents in Garmsir, southern Afghanistan. It was part of the ongoing Helmand Province campaign and took place primarily between 2007 and 2011. By the end of December 2007, the situation on the ground had reached a stalemate, and a de facto border had been established. In order to break this stalemate Operation Asada Wosa (Live Free) was undertaken 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, the battalion landing team for the 24th MEU along with elements from 2nd Reconnaissance Bn started their combat operations with an attack on the Taliban-held town of Garmsir on 28 April. The operation was carried out in conjunction with British troops of the 16 Air Assault Brigade. Taliban forces withdrew from the town as a result of the assault and took up a position further south.

After seizing Garmsir, the Marines pushed further south into an area where the insurgents had built bunkers and tunnels capable of withstanding coalition airstrikes. They ran into stiff resistance and the operation, expected to take a few days, lasted more than a month. This implied to the ISAF commander that the town was important to the insurgents, as such the Marines were ordered to remain in the area in order to keep the pressure up. With the original mission changed, the Marines transitioned from combat operations to civil operations.