Operation Karez

Operation Karez
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Afghanistan map
Date May 13–23, 2008 Location Badghis province, Afghanistan Result See aftermath
Belligerents
ISAF: • Norway • Germany • United States • Croatia  Islamic Republic of Afghanistan	Taliban
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Kjell Inge Bækken Brig. Gen. Dieter Dammjacob	Unknown
Strength
250 soldiers from Telemark Battalion 60 soldiers (mainly recce, signal and logistic personnel) est. 35 soldiers (ETT and PSD) 30 soldiers	150 insurgents ~500 support fighters[1]
Casualties and losses
None	13-15 killed[2][3]

Operation Karez was a military operation between May 13–23, 2008 involving Norwegian and German ISAF and Afghan government forces against the Taliban as part of the war in Afghanistan. Their objective was to eliminate the presence of Taliban insurgents who had regrouped in the area in the aftermath of Operation Harekate Yolo in late 2007.

It was the second time in half a year that Norwegian and German ISAF forces had participated in a major offensive in the restless Badghis province in western Afghanistan. It was also the first time that the professional soldiers of the Telemark Battalion had participated in actual combat.

The name of the operation derives from the Afghan word for kareez, which is a water management system used to provide a reliable supply of water to human settlements and irrigation in hot, arid and semi-arid climates.