Baharak Ambush Explained

Conflict:Baharak ambush
Partof:the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Date:21 October 2020
Place:Baharak District, Takhar, Afghanistan
Result:Taliban victory
Combatant2: Taliban
Commander1: Raz Mohammad Doorandish
Commander2: Unknown
Strength1: 60[1] –100 Afghan forces[2]
Strength2: Unknown
Casualties1: 34–55 killed[3] [4] [5]
8 wounded
Several Humvees destroyed[6]
Casualties2: 22 killed[7]
Units1: Afghan Army
Afghan Police
Units2: Unknown

The Baharak ambush was an incident that occurred on October 21, 2020, when members of the Taliban ambushed an Afghan security forces unit in the small village of Baharak in Takhar province. It was the deadliest attack by the Taliban in October.

Background

On April 6, 2020, Taliban fighters mounted an attack on a security post in Baharak District Center but were repelled by Afghan security forces. Two Taliban fighters were killed, one of whom was reported to be a commander. An unspecified number of civilians were also wounded.[8]

Ambush

At 03:00 AM, an elite Taliban unit armed with night-vision goggles and assault rifles attacked an Afghan security forces unit conducting an operation to clear Taliban fighters from the area.[9] [10] The Taliban fighters took up positions in houses,[11] [12] leading to several hours of intense fighting. During the fighting, security forces repeatedly called for support but did not receive any.[13] Deputy Police Chief of Takhar, Raz Mohammad Doorandish, was killed.[14] [15] Several Humvees were also set ablaze.[16]

Aftermath

The day after the ambush, an airstrike by the Afghan Air Force targeted a madrasa in the village of Hazara Qurluq, believing Taliban fighters involved in the previous day's attack were hiding there. The strike killed 11 children and their imam, and wounded 18 others.[17] [18] [19] Afghan government officials denied that children were killed, claiming only Taliban fighters died. The Minister of Defence did not deny that the strike hit a school.[20] [21]

Notes and References

  1. https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-167205
  2. Web site: KabulNow . 2020-10-21 . More than 40 Afghan forces killed in Taliban ambush in Takhar . 2024-07-24 . KabulNow . en-US.
  3. News: Abed . Fahim . Faizi . Fatima . 2020-10-08 . Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2020 . 2024-07-25 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: Taliban ambush kills dozens of Afghan forces in northern province . 2024-07-22 . Al Jazeera . en.
  5. Web site: GTD Search Results . 2024-07-25 . www.start.umd.edu.
  6. News: RFE/RL . Dozens Of Afghan Security Forces Killed In Taliban Ambush . 2024-07-29 . RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty . en.
  7. Web site: Taliban kill 47 policemen in northern Afghan province FDD's Long War Journal . 2024-07-25 . www.longwarjournal.org.
  8. Web site: Afghanistan: Security forces foil attack in Baharak district (Takhar province) April 6 . 2024-07-25 . Afghanistan: Security forces foil attack in Baharak district (Takhar province) April 6 Crisis24 . en.
  9. News: 2020-10-21 . Elite Taliban Unit Ambush Afghan Forces Killing 34 During Talks . 2024-07-30 . Bloomberg.com . en.
  10. Web site: 2020-10-21 . Taliban Ambush Kills At Least 25 Afghan Security Personnel . 2024-07-30 . Kashmir Observer . en-US.
  11. Web site: AFP . Staff Writer With . 2020-10-21 . Taliban Ambush Kills at Least 25 Afghan Security Personnel in Takhar . 2024-07-30 . The Defense Post . en-us.
  12. Web site: Taliban ambush kills at least 25 Afghan security personnel THE DAILY TRIBUNE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN . 2024-07-30 . www.newsofbahrain.com.
  13. News: RFE/RL . Dozens Of Afghan Security Forces Killed In Taliban Ambush . 2024-07-30 . RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty . en.
  14. News: Abed . Fahim . Faizi . Fatima . 2020-10-08 . Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2020 . 2024-07-30 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  15. Web site: Sajia . 2020-10-21 . Taliban Ambush Kills Dozens in Northern Afghanistan The Killid Group . 2024-07-30 . The Killid Group . en.
  16. News: RFE/RL . Dozens Of Afghan Security Forces Killed In Taliban Ambush . 2024-07-30 . RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty . en.
  17. Web site: National . The . 12 killed following an air strike in Takhar, Afghanistan . 2024-07-25 . The National . en.
  18. Web site: 2020-10-23 . Taliban Kills at Least 23 Afghan Soldiers in Latest Attacks . 2024-07-29 . Voice of America . en.
  19. Web site: 2020-10-22 . Airstrike Kills 12 Children in Northeastern Afghanistan . 2024-07-30 . Voice of America . en.
  20. News: 2020-10-22 . Afghanistan conflict: 'Children among dead' in air strike on school . 2024-07-25 . en-GB.
  21. News: Abed . Fahim . Faizi . Fatima . 2020-10-08 . Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2020 . 2024-07-25 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.

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