The Taliban demonstrated remarkable coordination in their attacks, managing to seize control of two districts in Helmand Province by the end of July, although these were swiftly reclaimed a few days later.

Tom Koenigs, the top U.N. official in Afghanistan, told the German news weekly Der Spiegel that the Taliban numbers of casualties do not reflect success.

Due to the intense Taliban offensive and escalation of the war, Ian Hope, commander of the Canadian Princess Patricia's battalion, became increasingly concerned.

Despite these concerns, Major General Benjamin Freakley remained focused on executing search-and-destroy missions in the mountains, a plan he had devised prior to arriving in Afghanistan to get NATO allies set up for operations in the country.

[5] Canadian and U.S. special force teams on the ground disagreed with diverting resources to chase insurgents in the mountains while facing a significant Taliban attack near the provincial capitals of Kandahar and Helmand.

On the first day that ISAF took control, August 1, a British patrol was hit by enemy fire in Helmand province; three soldiers were killed and one wounded.