Brits make aerial assault on Taliban in Zabul

Telegraph:

With Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries booming out over loudspeakers, paratroopers embarked on large Chinook helicopters at Kandahar airfield to fly into enemy-held territory.

Accompanied by Apache attack helicopters, the aircraft swept low over a scorched desert landscape of dry river beds.

Flying just 50ft above ground level, the lumbering Chinooks twisted from side-to-side as reports had indicated that the Taliban were equipped with anti-aircraft machineguns and were determined to shoot down an aircraft.

Inside the Chinook, an RAF crewman swept his multi-barrelled machinegun from side to side, searching for targets.

Five minutes before landing, the Paras, their chests crammed with grenades, ammunition and bayonets, clambered to their feet under the weight of 100lb of equipment and body armour.

The helicopter pulled a tight turn, swooping over small, mud-brick compounds surrounded by apricot and mulberry trees before landing next to an orchard.

The troops streamed off – dropping their extra loads of mortars bombs and two gallons of water next to a quad bike and trailer that had just been driven off the aircraft.

Walls were blown through in an uninhabited compound as A Company, 3rd Bn The Parachute Regiment searched the area. A grenade was thrown down a tunnel suspected of containing arms.

It heralded the start of Operation Southern Earthquake in which the British have entered an area of Afghanistan hardly any other Nato troops have previously visited.

...

For all that action, they do not appear to have made contact with the enemy, but believe that the Taliban will stand in fight when they do. What the story does make clear is that the operational tempo of allied forces is picking up against an enemy that is believed to be on the run.