MINISTRY OF ZEALAND
DEFENCE FORCE

COVER SHEET
To accompany documents to

Annex 

l'



 

Minister of Defence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  

  

Subject: .4 CRU AND NZSAS OPERATIONS IN BAGHLAN PROVINCE AUGUST AND
SEPTEMBER 2010
MOD FiIeNo. Tracking Minister's Tracking#:
-- - . . (For Minister?s o??ice)
P?o?ty: ROUTINE Request Ministerial response by:
Contacts: 4 1 Colonel Tel: 
- 2 Colonel Tel: AIH:
Sheet not to exceed one page. Please complete shaded areas.
-The-purpose of this note is to provide releasable information to the Prime Minister the operations conducted by the Crisis Response Unit (CRU) and NZSAS Task Force
- - . . in Baghlan Province. Afghanistan on 22 August and 03 October 2010.
Recommendations: 1 Note the risks associated with releasing the information.
- . Refer this note to the Prime Minister and Minister of ForeigLAffairs for public release.
NZDF
Consultation
Minister's
comments:
Minister?s Action: Signed I Noted Agreed lApproved Declined
Referred to:
Signature: Date:
04%

MATE .

ieutenant General I G: Ml ?x 46/ {1,04

hlef of Defence Force In HA3

Date I 3 I - .
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DIRECTORATE SPE
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Received? 
Flle No: 

Comment: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

CRU AND NZSAS OPERATIONS IN BAGHLAN PROVINCE AUGUST AND
OCTOBER 2010 

1. On 3 August 2010. a daytime Patrol led by Lt O'Donnell was
ambushed in the North Eastern region of Bamian province by an insurgent
group that had an active history of targeting Afghan National Security Forces
(ANSF) and coalition forces within the Baghlan-Bamian border region. This
insurgent group was based in the neighbouring province of Baghlan, centred
on the Talewa Berfak district (approx 20km away).

2. Following this attack. the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MOI) Crisis
ReSponse Unit (CRU) supported by the NZSAS Task Force and other ISAF
coalition partners, commenced planning to disrupt this insurgent group's
capacity and capability to target coalition forces, including the within
the Baghlan-Bamian border region. The Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant
General Mateparae approved the operation and it was launched on the night
21 August after gaining additional approval from the MOI and Commander
ISAF. The MOI issued Arrest Warrants for the two principal insurgent
commanders. whiCh-Wer_e_t9 Psenforcsd by 
3. The force for the operation consisted of a combined ground force 8 6(a)
CRU personnel and 6(a) NZSAS personnel) supported by coalition
helicopters and ?xed-wing aircraft 3 6(a)

The ground force landed near a village of Tigiran in Baghlan province
at 00.30am on Sunday 22 August. The force was on the ground for
approximately three hours. and during that time a large number of armed
insurgents. operating in small groups attempted to outflank the force and ?re
on it from high ground. The armed insurgents were engaged by coalition
heliCOpters and aircraft. The ground force searched three buildings and
destroyed a quantity of weapons. ammunition and explosives. but did not
locate the two insurgent leaders. The ground force departed at approx
3.303m. During the operation nine armed insurgents were killed by the
supporting coalition helicopters and aircraft. and one NZSAS soldier was
injured when a wall collapsed on him. The soldier was evacuated and has
subsequently returned to NZ for further medical treatment.

4. Following the operation allegations were made that up to twenty (20)
civilians had been killed by aerial bombardment and twenty (20) houses
destroyed by Based on these allegations a joint assessment team
composed of representatives from the Afghan MOI and Defence and ISAF
of?cials conducted a full assessment of the operation. The assessment team
visited the provincial and district capitals. the hospital where the alleged
casualties were receiving treatment. viewed the ?gun tapes" from the coalition
aircraft and spoke to NZSAS personnel. As a result of their investigation the
assessment team concluded that "having reviewed the evidence there is no
way that civilian casualties could have occurred" and the actions of the ground
force and coalition air were cleared of all accusations.

5. Headquarters ISAF assessed that as a result of this operation the
insurgent group's capacity and capability to conduct further operations had
been disrupted. A follow-on operation was conducted on the night of 2
October. but passed without incident. No insurgents were encountered and
no shots ?red.

UNCLASSIFIED

 





UNCLASSIFIED
2

Note:
1. During the operation on 22 Aug, two of the three buildings searched caught ?re. the first

was caused by explosives igniting the structure and the second was caused by an unattended
cooking ?re left burning when the local inhabitants departed.

A 

UNCLASSIFIED