Sangin is notorious as one of the central locations of the opium trade in the south of the country, and is also a town that has traditionally supported the Taliban.

Sangin has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh), characterised by little precipitation and high variation between summer and winter temperatures.

On 31 July 2005 a United Nations convoy of six vehicles came under attack by Taliban forces lying in ambush some 2 km south of the town.

Two Afghan personnel, one driver and the armed guard commander from the Ministry of Interior, were wounded by the friendly fire and evacuated by helicopter to Kandahar.

In March 2006 units of the 3/124th Infantry American Security Force (SECFOR) teams and their Afghan counterparts began the construction of FOB Wolf on a plateau overlooking the Sangin green zone.

The convoy was involved in a complex ambush that lasted about an hour resulting in 8–10 enemy killed, and no friendly forces lost.

After clearing the scene and recovering the ANA KIA, the convoy continued to FOB Wolf under aerial support from Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

The actions of this unit can be seen by reading "The Poor Bastard's Club" book written by SSG Paul Mehlos.

After being warned against the "platoon house" strategy, the British became engaged in heavy fighting with Taliban insurgents and allied opium traffickers deep inside the green zone.

A number of British and Canadian troops were killed during fighting in the town, including Corporal Bryan Budd (3 PARA) who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

3/7 flooded the green zone with Marines and 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion provided assault breacher vehicles upon arrival, and controlled areas from Route 611 to the Helmand River in a months time[citation needed].

[3][6] The British troops, with 40 Commando, Royal Marines among the last to leave the area, withdrew on September 20, 2010, to be replaced by 3/7.

2/9 was relieved by Echo Company, 2D Battalion 8th Marines in February 2011 taking over a portion of the Southern Green Zone.

[13] 1/5 was relieved by 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, who once more returned to Sangin focusing on training the Afghan National Army (ANA) unit there, 3rd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, and saw positive results.

[14] the Marines continue to encourage this cooperative attitude between the Afghan National Army, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the People of Sangin.

"Suicide" Charley Company, based at FOB Nolay situated at the southern end of the city, experienced heavy resistance within the AO.

Occupying four positions in the green zone, three of the patrol bases were engaged in heavy, close combat with Taliban forces.

Stevens, who was famous for his bright smile and his infectious sense of humor, quickly put on his gear and proclaimed that he was ready to go sweep the landing zone for the Medical evacuation aircraft that he knew his wounded brother was going to need.