Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2008
On April 27, President Karzai escaped another attempt on his life: gunmen opened fire during a military parade celebrating the nation's victory and liberation from the eight-year occupation of the Soviet Union.
A de facto border was established east of Garmsir along the banks of the Helmand River that divided British-held from Taliban-held territory.
[5] They met almost no resistance, because the Taliban had already observed in the previous days the movements of the Marines before the operation and expected an assault so withdrew to take up positions a few kilometers outside the town.
Their objective was to eliminate the presence of Taliban insurgents who had regrouped in the area in the aftermath of Operation Harekate Yolo in late 2007.
Approximately 200 militants began firing rockets and mortars from the nearby village, taking American ISAF forces by surprise.
[16] In August, French troops had been involved in increased fighting in the area of Sirobi some 50 km (31 mi) east of Kabul.
[citation needed] Late August saw one of the largest operations by NATO forces in Helmand province, with the aim bringing electricity to the region.
A convoy of 100 vehicles took five days to move massive sections of an electric turbine for the Kajaki Dam, covering 180 km (110 mi).
The Canadians covered the first leg and the British took over at a meeting point in the desert, using 50 BVS10 Viking armoured vehicles to escort the convoy.
Hundreds of special forces troops went in first, sweeping the area and although difficult to verify, British commanders estimated more than 200 insurgents were killed- without any losses or injuries to NATO soldiers.
British, Dutch, French and US aircraft, helicopters and unmanned drones provided aerial reconnaissance and fire support.
[19] On September 3, The war spilled over on to Pakistani territory for the first time when heavily armed commandos, believed to be US Army Special Forces, landed by helicopter and attacked three houses in a village close to a known Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold.
The foreign ministry in Islamabad called the incursion "a gross violation of Pakistan's territory" and a "grave provocation" which, it said, had resulted in "immense" loss of civilian life.
On September 6, in an apparent reaction to the recent cross-border attack, the federal government announced disconnection of supply lines to the allied forces stationed in Afghanistan through Pakistan for an indefinite period.
[22] An unnamed senior Pentagon official told the BBC that at some point within the past two months President George W. Bush issued a classified order to authorize US raids against militants in Pakistan.
According to the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, there was "no question of any agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on our side of the border".
Then-Prime Minister John Howard announced plans in April 2007 to deploy 300 special forces to support the Reconstruction Taskforce.
In addition to radar crews, logistics and intelligence officers, and security personnel, this would bring the number of Australian forces in Afghanistan up to about 950 in mid-2007 and 1000 by mid-2008.
[28] Almost all of them are engaged in the Helmand Province, a part of these located at Camp Bastion, the rest based in the vicinity of the Green Zone, near the town of Gereshk.
The 2,600 French ground forces in 2008 included troops from the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, the Régiment de marche du Tchad and Special Forces from the Commandement des Opérations Spéciales for Special Operations Command, including Navy, marine and air commandos.
