Musa Qala Retaken

So much for those 2,000 Taliban that the thugs claimed were there to defend the town against NATO and Afghan forces. As I suspected, it was much sound and fury, but no match for NATO firepower backing up Afghan forces that retook the area from Taliban thugs who took advantage of a bad deal by NATO earlier this year.

Taliban thugs continue harassing fire against the NATO and Afghan forces, but they're not going to drive off the Afghan and NATO troops.

A resident of Musa Qala, Haji Mohammad Rauf, said he saw Taliban fighters leave the town in trucks and motorbikes around noon. Two hours later, hundreds of Afghan soldiers streamed into town and established security checkpoints, he said.

"I was standing on my roof and saw hundreds of Afghan soldiers drive into town," Rauf said. "All the shops are closed and families are staying inside their homes."

A British military spokesman, Lt. Col. Richard Eaton, said he couldn't confirm that the Taliban had left the town's center but said he wouldn't be surprised.

"This is what happens. We have had a number of operations in the past where once the Taliban realize they are overmatched they tend to leave," Eaton said. "I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case here. Ultimately our aim is to take Musa Qala and if we take Musa Qala without a big fight, that's fantastic."

Taliban militants overran Musa Qala in February, four months after British troops left the town following a contentious peace agreement that gave security responsibilities to Afghan elders.

U.S.-led coalition troops carried out airstrikes Sunday against compounds used by Taliban weapons smugglers in Musa Qala, the coalition said Monday. Several militants were killed and two civilians were wounded, it said.

Following the airstrike, the joint Afghan and coalition forces came under attack as they searched compounds in the area. "Using a combination of accurate, conventional munitions and small arms, the combined force returned fire, killing the militants," it said. Ten suspects were detained.

Bill Roggio also notes that the Taliban bugged out instead of standing their ground and fighting against the NATO and Afghan forces. What's funny is the Taliban claiming that they would cede the ground for fear of civilian casualties.

The Taliban are playing the media for all they're worth. They can't win on the ground, so they're trying to score points in the media. And they've got willing accomplices who have no problem publishing Taliban agitprop.

Roggio also makes the following observation:

Fighting has been reported to be ongoing at the outskirts of town as the Taliban is fleeing northward. At least two local Taliban leaders were captured during the assault, a senior weapons facilitator was killed in an airstrike. It is unclear if NATO airpower is striking the Taliban columns as they withdraw, or if the Afghan cut a deal to allow the Taliban to flee in exchange for taking the city without a fight.

Intersting