Combat· Afghanistan War (Op ENDURING FREEDOM)
Operation Godfather
Operation Godfather was a Marine operation in the Garmsir District of southern Helmand, mounted to clear one of the last remaining Taliban strongholds in the district and deny the insurgents the freedom of movement they had used to bring weapons and supplies up from the Pakistani border. The Marines, working with Afghan forces, pushed into the contested ground and crossed to establish positions that would choke off the insurgent routes along the Helmand River. The operation met less resistance than expected and marked the effective end of major fighting in the long struggle for Garmsir, though the Taliban continued to harass with guerrilla tactics and roadside bombs afterward. Godfather was one of the operations by which the Marines consolidated their hold on the Helmand districts during the surge, extending control into areas the enemy had used as havens. It contributed to the broader effort to secure southern Helmand and cut the insurgent supply lines.
Record no. 787