| Conflict: | Battle of Shawali Kowt |
| Partof: | the War in Afghanistan and the Afghan Civil War |
| Date: | December 3, 2001 |
| Place: | Shawali Kowt, Arghandab River, Afghanistan |
| Result: | Coalition victory |
| Combatant1: |  United StatesNorthern Alliance |
| Combatant2: | Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Taliban |
| Commander1: | Jason Amerine |
| Commander2: | Unknown |
| Strength1: | 300 |
| Strength2: | 30-50[1] |
The Battle of Shawali Kowt took place near the Arghandab River in Afghanistan during the Invasion of Afghanistan. On December 2, 2001, after a pitched street-by-street battle, the Green Berets and Afghan Freedom Fighters captured the town of Shawali Kowt,[2] but could not gain control over a bridge over the Arghandab River, a gateway to the Taliban spiritual center of Kandahar. That night, the Taliban forces launched a major counterattack, triggering a retreat by the Afghans. Over the next eight hours, the American forces defended against the retreat. U.S. Air Force Sergeant Alex Yoshimoto, the combat controller, orchestrated numerous air strikes from a variety of fighters and bombers, thwarting the Taliban charge and forcing the enemy to retreat.