2019 Camp Shorabak attack
Part of the War in Afghanistan
LocationCamp Shorabak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Date1 March 2019
TargetBus
Attack type
Shooting
Suicide bombing
WeaponsImprovised explosive device
Deaths23
Injured15
PerpetratorsTaliban

On the morning of 1 March 2019, Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers attacked Camp Shorabak in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. They killed 23 Afghan soldiers and injured another 15.[1][2][3][4] Twenty insurgents were killed.[1] None of the US Marine advisers stationed at the military base were injured.

The attack

The attack took place in the early hours of the morning.

Taliban fighters stormed the ANDSF [Afghan National Defence and Security Forces] base at Camp Shorabak in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, which is home to the Afghan army's 215th Corps and includes a US garrison of a few hundred Marine advisers.[5] The base was of particular importance to the US military because it had previously hosted thousands of marines deployed to Helmand during the troop surge.[6] During the attack, the Taliban, wearing Afghan military uniforms and using military equipment regularly used by the Afghan army, fooled the soldiers defending the base.

One suicide bomber detonated his explosive device in a canteen. A total of three suicide bombers were killed in the attack.[7] Afghan units were assisted by US forces with air support to repel the Taliban attack.[5]

Claim of Responsibility

The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, their second against a major military target since the start of Taliban-US peace talks, probably to strengthen their negotiating position.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 At least 23 Afghan security forces killed in Taliban attack
  2. ↑ Snow, Shawn (3 March 2019). "Taliban fighters try to storm base in Helmand province housing US Marines and Afghan forces". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  3. ↑ Jones, Christopher. "Taliban Fighters Attacked an Afghan Army Base Manned by Some U.S. Military Personnel Today". Pacific Standard. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  4. ↑ Shah, Taimoor; Faizi, Fatima; Zucchino, David (1 March 2019). "Taliban Target Key Afghan Base on Eve of Peace Talks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  5. 1 2 Snow, Shawn (1 March 2019). "Taliban fighters try to storm base in Helmand province housing US Marines and Afghan forces". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Taliban forces attack southern Afghan military base as peace talks continue". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "Taliban suicide team attacks Afghan base in Helmand | FDD's Long War Journal". www.longwarjournal.org. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2022.

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