Afghan forces raise the country’s flag above Sayedebad, Helmand as the Decisive Phase of Op TOR SHEZADA comes to a close

Members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) have raised the country’s flag above the town of Sayedebad, which is now under ISAF and ANA control.

Sergeant Sheraga from the Afghan National Army said, “We are proud, as we have now taken control of this area. Before this area was under the control of the Taliban. They disturbed all the people. Now we are very happy. We appreciate the International Security Assistance Force in helping us with this mission.”

Sergeant Sheraga of the Afghan National Army standing in front of a recently raised Afghan flag in Sayedebad.

At the same time, forces from Corunna Company, the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment completed their clearance of the road from Nad-e-Ali to Sayedebad and met up with their sister company, Somme, who had held the town since Monday 2 August.

Lieutenant Colonel Frazer Lawrence OBE, Commanding Officer of 1LANCS on his arrival in the town to see troops and the progress made said, “The operation has been a huge success. There really hasn’t been much fighting at all. There has been a tiny bit of harassing fire from the insurgents, but effectively we have stolen the town of Sayedebad.”

Soldiers from Somme Company were treated to a cooked meal of fresh rations, before Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence patrolled through the town with his troops. On the way he spoke to locals, asking them about the arrival of ISAF and the ANA.

He commented, “It is a huge step forward for [the population]. The trick is now to secure the town with our Afghan partners and that will set the conditions for reconstruction and development to take place but importantly, for the District Governor to get down here, meet his people, confirm their needs, and then start to improve their quality of life.”

The Officer Commanding Somme Company, Major Darren Newman briefing the Commanding officer of the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Lt Col Frazer Lawrence OBE on the current situation on Sayedebad.

Working with the District Council and the District Governor over the coming weeks, ISAF will look to conduct development projects in the region. “The aim is to improve the school, get the school working again. To clean out irrigation ditches and to meet the other needs that [the population] are bound to have.” said Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence.

Somme Company extracted by Chinook helicopter as daylight broke on the 6th day of the operation after handing the security of the town over to Corunna Company and the Afghan National Army.

A community shura took place on 09 August 2010 involving more than 60 key leaders, tribal elders and members of the Security Council and Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Lt Col Frazer Lawrence, District Governor Habibullah and a senior representative from the Ministry of Education were in attendance to discuss the progress and how the area will move forward now that the security has improved. Numerous stabilisation and reconstruction projects were discussed and will begin in earnest in the next few days whilst the Check Points are being fortified. There will remain a continuous ANSF presence in the region to continue to provide the security to allow freedom of movement and to permit economic development.

Photos: Cpl Barry Lloyd RLC/MOD 2010

VIDEO – Troops Enter Sayedebad during Operation Tor Shezada

Soldiers serving with Somme Company, the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, working jointly with the Afghan National Army (ANA), have seized and held the last Taliban stronghold of Sayedebad in southern Afghanistan.

UK and Afghan soldiers move into compounds in the Sayedebad area of Nad-e Ali as part of Op TOR SHEZADA

Somme Company of 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1LANCS) successfully performed an aerial insertion from a Chinook helicopter in the early hours of 30th July 2010 under a cover of darkness.

They are now within Sayedebad, as part of Operation Tor Shezada which is pushing insurgent fighters further from the population centres. This increased security will enable the Afghan Government to extend its reach to the local population.





Photos from Op Tor Shezada
Cpl Barry Lloyd RLC/MOD 2010

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School’s in for British troops on Afghanistan’s frontline

Even in the heat of the green zone of Afghanistan, the education of British troops is still important. Be it developing their core skills in maths and English or completing leadership courses for promotion, it is lessons as usual for British Troops.


Lieutenant Laura Bullen (28) from Bridge of Allan, Stirling is an Educational Training Services officer with the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, or 1 Lancs, currently based out of forward operating base Shawqat in Nad-e-Ali. She says: “My job here is to continue the education of 1 Lancs soldiers. The soldiers have periods of down time, they’re not continuously out fighting, and it is during these periods that I’m here to do education.

“I open up the education centre in Shawqat and then anyone can drop in. I have lots of guys on camp who are doing courses at the moment and they pop by when they have a spare five or ten minutes, ask some questions, get some more work from me and then get back to their day jobs.”


Whilst on tour, it’s Laura’s job to teach the soldiers of 1 Lancs and get them through the necessary courses that they need to do. This can mean working out of the education centre or going forward, carrying the kit she’ll need, to the patrol bases and check points to ensure that frontline soldiers do not miss out.

Laura says: “When I go forward to the smaller bases it is quite difficult. I take the absolute minimum resources. I take one calculator and one dictionary but I have to improvise with what I’ve got there - I’ll use stones if needs be!”

For Lieutenant Bullen, who gained her PGCE in adult education through the Army, it is not just about getting soldiers through the necessary courses to promote, it is about giving them lasting skills to take away with them when they leave the army.

“We do basic numeracy and literacy and also Command, Leadership and Management courses, which is the course they need to do to promote. It is actually a civilian qualification as well. It’s Level 1 numeracy and literacy, so they can use it when they leave the army.”

VIDEO: Tractors handed out to Afghan farmers in Nad-e-Ali

Web edit of soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment handing out 20 new tractors to farming co-operatives in the Nad-e-Ali region of Helmand Province.

Tractors handed out to Afghan farmers in Nad-e-Ali

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, working with the International Relief and Development Agency and the Afghan Government, have handed out 20 new tractors to farming co-operatives in the Nad-e-Ali region of Helmand Province.


Delighted local farmers were presented with keys to tractors, thresher machines and ploughing equipment by District Governor Habibullah at a ribbon cutting ceremony.


Each of the farming co-operatives consisted of at least 35 farmers who had been asked to work up and present a business plan. To qualify for the equipment, the co-operatives had to show that they were willing to stop sowing poppy crops and focus their production on wheat farming.

Captain Nick Carter, Influence Officer with the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment said: “The International Relief and Development Agency has been helping bring together co-operatives of farmers. How much land these farmers actually own will entitle them to certain farming equipment. So what we have today is a give-away of tractors, threshing machines and ploughs.”


The ceremony was attended by around 150 people from across the local area. Under ongoing aid programs, farmers have also received wheat seed, non-ammonium based fertiliser and growing kits containing onions, tomatoes and fruit seeds. The kits enable farmers from across the region to continue to grow produce throughout the year once the wheat season is over. In total, each farmer involved in the program has received approximately $1000 of aid to help re-build the economy in the once prosperous farming region.


Captain Carter comments: “This program is helping to develop the farming community. This particular area of Nad-e-Ali used to be very wealthy and it still can be. By having modern equipment, the farmers are able to go back into the commercial market and sell their produce for a good price, while also helping them move away from the poppy.”

General Petraeus visits Task Force Helmand

General David Petraeus, the Head of US Central Command, visited Helmand Province on Saturday to meet British Foreign Office and military staff in Lashkar Gah.

General Petraeus - who was accompanied by the Commander of ISAF Joint Command, Lieutenant General David Rodriguez, and the ISAF Regional Commander South, Major General Nick Carter - was met by the Commander of Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Richard Felton and the Director of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Lindy Cameron.


General Petraeus received an update on current and future operations with key briefings given by Colonel Shirin Shah of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA), and Colonel Kamulladin of the Afghanistan National Police (ANP).

Colonel Shirin Shah outlined some of the challenges that the ANA face and highlighted the steady progress that is being made by his six kandaks (companies). Colonel Kamulladin said that recent partnership operations were continuing to improve the ANP’s capabilities.


Mentoring and provincial reconstruction are key aspects of the mission in Afghanistan and General Petraeus was able to receive updates on the progress of the largest projects throughout Helmand province.

After leaving Lashkar Gah, the General flew to Forward Operating Base Shawqat in the Nad-e Ali District where he was greeted by the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1 LANCS), Lieutenant Colonel Frazer Lawrence. Lt Col Lawrence talked him through what Combined Force Nad-e Ali are doing in the District to improve security, freedom of movement and reconstruction.

General Petraeus then met with the Nad-e Ali District Governor, Habibullah Khan; the District Chief of Police, Major Sadat; and the senior ANA representative in the area, Lieutenant Colonel Zelgai, before taking a walk through the thriving bazaar in the District Centre.


The General said he recognized the great efforts being made to improve the safety and security of the population within the Task Force Helmand area of operations. The ANA and ANP, working in partnership with ISAF forces, continue to shape the Helmand area building on the successes of the initial phases of Operation Moshtarak.

Brigadier Richard Felton said: “Giving the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) the opportunity to brief General Petraeus really demonstrates the success of partnering. An Afghan plan supported by Task Force Helmand is the real way to deliver security to the people of the Province who we are here to protect. Saturday was a significant day and indicates the ANSF’s preparedness to lead the way in the development of Afghanistan.”

Images Credit: Sqn Ldr Neville Clayton, RAF & Cpl Lloyd, RLC