Battle of Herat

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Battle of Herat

Date	November 12, 2001
Location	Herat, Afghanistan
Result	Allied victory.

Combatants

Taliban

Islamic Republic of Iran,
Northern Alliance,
United States

Commanders

Unknown

Tommy Franks,
Ismail Khan,
Yahya Rahim Safavi

Strength

5,000

Casualties

The Battle of Herat was a coordinated insurrection and uprising in the Afghan city of Herat as part of the United States war in Afghanistan. The city was liberated on November 12, 2001 by Northern Alliance forces as well as Special Forces of both the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

1 The Combatants
2 The Plan
3 The Operation
4 External links

[edit] The Combatants

The U.S. Special Forces teams consisted of U.S. Army Rangers and Delta force under the command of CENTCOM General Tommy Franks. Iranian forces consisted of agents of the Qods Force under the command of Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, commander of the Pasdaran. The Northern Alliance faction consisted of over 5,000 militiamen under the command of Ismail Khan, a commander in the previous Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and former governor of Herat before the Taliban came into power in 1995.

[edit] The Plan

The plan, organized by General Franks and General Safavi, was for Iranian Special Forces to discreetly enter the city and form an insurrection against the Taliban. This sudden event was to coincide with the entrance of Ismail Khan’s band of Northern Alliance militia members into the city. Meanwhile, a team of U.S. Special Forces and CIA agents would oversee the operation in Tehran alongside Iranian military intelligence.

[edit] The Operation

As planned, Iranian commandos secretly entered Herat to begin the insurrection. The Northern Alliance, Shi’ite ethnic factions, and a small group of U.S. Special Forces entered the city under the guidance of Ismail Khan. The Iranians launched the insurrection, which successfully gave way to, what Ismail Khan claimed to be, the local uprising against the Taliban leaders. The city was liberated that afternoon of November 12 without a fight. Iranian media even went as far as to report of widespread celebration including ‘dancing on the rooftops.’