Operation We Are Here

Operation We Are Here
Name	Operation We Are Here
Partof	War on Terror
Date	2010–2012
Place	Afghanistan, Helmand Province
Result	Contested
Combatant1	International Security Assistance Force
Combatant2	Taliban
Commander1	General David Petraeus
Commander2	Mullah Omar
Strength1	Unknown
Strength2	Unknown

Operation We Are Here was a multinational coalition counterinsurgency campaign conducted in Helmand Province during the later stages of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), involving forces from United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Estonia, and Norway. The operation intersected with wider strategic initiatives such as the Surge in Afghanistan (2009–2012), the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, and diplomatic efforts tied to the Kabul Process and Bilateral Security Agreement (2014). It drew attention from international media outlets including BBC News, The New York Times, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

Background

The operation emerged amid the broader collapse of governance in parts of Helmand Province after the Battle of Musa Qala (2006) and the reassertion of Taliban insurgency influence following setbacks in Iraq War (2003–2011). Regional dynamics involved neighboring states such as Pakistan and its Inter-Services Intelligence, cross-border sanctuaries near the Durand Line, and narcotics networks tied to the Afghanistan opium trade. International actors included NATO, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, European Union missions, and agencies like United States Agency for International Development engaged in stabilization and reconstruction.

Objectives and Planning

Planners aligned the operation with strategic guidance from senior leaders including General David Petraeus, General Sir David Richards, and policymakers in Washington, D.C. and London. Operational goals mirrored components of the Counterinsurgency Field Manual (FM 3-24), seeking to clear, hold, and build in contested districts around Lashkar Gah, Nahr-e Saraj District, and Nawa District. Interagency coordination involved units from International Security Assistance Force, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, provincial reconstruction teams from Department of State (United States), and contractors linked to Blackwater USA-era frameworks—while diplomatic threads included outreach to tribal elders of the Pashtun community and negotiations with regional powerbrokers connected to the Karzai administration.

Timeline of Events

Initial operations commenced in late 2010 with clearance operations modeled on tactics used during the Operation Moshtarak (2010) offensive in Marja. Follow-on phases in 2011 emphasized population security and mentoring of Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police units trained under NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and advisors from United States Marine Corps, British Army, Royal Dutch Marines, and Canadian Forces. Key engagements resembled clashes seen in Battle of Sangin (2006–2007) and skirmishes near Garmser District. By 2012, a transition plan synchronized with the ISAF drawdown and the strategic timeline of the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan (2011–2016).

Participants and Command Structure

Coalition leadership operated under the umbrella of International Security Assistance Force headquarters with operational command layers reflecting doctrine from NATO Allied Command Operations and national headquarters such as Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) and Department of Defense (United States). Senior national figures with public profiles during the period included Prime Minister David Cameron, President Barack Obama, President Hamid Karzai, and military leaders like General John Allen and Lieutenant General Nick Carter. Participating units included brigades from 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, elements of Royal Marines, 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (United States), and special operations elements associated with United States Special Operations Command and SAS (Special Air Service) detachments.

Tactics and Operations

Tactical employment combined approaches from the Counterinsurgency Field Manual with lessons from the Iraq War and previous Afghan campaigns such as Operation Enduring Freedom. Techniques involved combined arms maneuvers using platforms like the M1151 Up-Armored HMMWV, Chinook (CH-47), AH-64 Apache, and close air support provided by Carrier Strike Group aviation detachments and allied air units from Royal Air Force and United States Air Force. Civil-military operations included projects funded through Provincial Reconstruction Team budgets, health initiatives tied to World Health Organization programs, and infrastructure work coordinated with United Nations Development Programme and World Bank efforts.

Casualties and Impact

The campaign resulted in casualties among coalition forces, affiliated contractors, and civilian populations, echoing casualty patterns seen across the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Medical evacuation workflows linked to Role 3 medical facility chains and treatment at trauma centers such as Landstuhl Regional Medical Center were activated for wounded personnel. The operation influenced political debates in capitals including Westminster, Washington, D.C., and Ottawa about force posture, counterinsurgency effectiveness, and timelines for the ISAF drawdown, while shaping the careers of officers promoted within institutions like the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the United States Military Academy.

Controversies and Investigations

Operational controversies paralleled scrutiny faced by operations like Operation Khanjar and incidents such as the Maywand District murders and Helmand massacre allegations, prompting inquiries by bodies such as parliamentary committees in United Kingdom Parliament, United States Congress, and oversight by NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Investigations touched on rules of engagement, civilian casualty reporting consistent with International Humanitarian Law, contractor conduct tied to private security firms, and transparency concerns raised by media outlets including The Guardian, The New York Times, and Der Spiegel. Legal reviews invoked instruments like the Geneva Conventions and examined coordination between civilian agencies including United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and host-nation institutions.

Category:Military operations involving the United Kingdom Category:Military operations involving the United States Category:Operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)