Combat· Afghanistan War (Op ENDURING FREEDOM)
Operation Strike of the Sword (Khanjar)
Operation Strike of the Sword, known by its Pashto name Khanjar, was a major Marine offensive in the Helmand River valley, one of the opening moves of the Afghan surge as thousands of newly arrived Marines pushed into the insurgent-held south.
The Marines air-assaulted and drove into the Taliban-controlled districts of the lower Helmand, moving into towns and farmland that coalition forces had not held before, with the aim of clearing the insurgents and establishing a lasting presence among the population. The operation marked the arrival of Marine combat power in strength in Helmand and the shift to a population-centric counterinsurgency approach, emphasizing holding ground and protecting civilians rather than sweeping and leaving. The Marines pushed deep into contested territory against an enemy that often chose to withdraw and harass rather than stand. Khanjar opened the Marine campaign in Helmand that would define their war in Afghanistan over the years that followed.
Record no. 3