# Angoor Adda raid > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Angoor_Adda_raid > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Angoor_Adda_raid.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angoor_Adda_raid > Source revision: 1351777215 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|2008 Covert anti-Taliban raid conducted by Seal Team 6 against in Angoor Adda}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Angoor Adda raid | partof = the [Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa](/source/Insurgency_in_Khyber_Pakhtunkhwa) and [War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)](/source/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%932021)) | place = [Angoor Adda](/source/Angoor_Adda), [South Waziristan](/source/South_Waziristan), [Federally Administered Tribal Areas](/source/Federally_Administered_Tribal_Areas), [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan) | date = September 3, 2008 | result = American victory | combatant1 = {{USA}} | combatant2 = border|25px [Taliban](/source/Taliban)
25px [Hezb-e-Islami](/source/Hezb-e-Islami_Gulbuddin) | commander1 = | commander2 = | strength1 = 45 Operators | strength2 = Approximately 120–130 fighters | casualties1 = Unknown | casualties2 = Unknown | casualties3 = Estimated 20 people killed, civilian number unclear[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090300523.html?hpid=moreheadlines U.S. Troops Crossed Border, Pakistan Says 20 Locals Reported Killed in Assault] Washington Post, September 4, 2008. | units1 = 18px [US Naval Special Warfare Development Group](/source/SEAL_Team_Six) | units2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Taliban.svg}} Taliban fighters
{{flagicon image|Flag of Hezbi Islami Gulbuddin.svg|border=borderless}} Hezb-e-Islami militants }} {{War in North-West Pakistan}} The '''Angoor Adda raid''' ({{langx|ps|د انګور اډې بريد}}) was a covert raid conducted by [SEAL Team Six](/source/DEVGRU) Blue squadron{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/09/01/six-little-known-stories-about-secretive-joint-special-operations-command-as-told-in-a-new-book/|title=Six little-known stories about secretive Joint Special Operations Command, as told in a new book|newspaper=the Washington post|date=1 September 2015}} against [Taliban](/source/Taliban) fighters on September 3, 2008, within the border town of [Angoor Adda](/source/Angoor_Adda) in [South Waziristan](/source/South_Waziristan). It was the first time American Troops fought a ground-based battle against the Taliban within [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan)i borders. The raid took place at the same time as [Pakistani military](/source/Pakistani_military) forces ended a four-week offensive in [Bajaur](/source/Bajaur), the northernmost Agency of the [Federally Administered Tribal Areas](/source/Federally_Administered_Tribal_Areas) of which South Waziristan is the southernmost, an offensive that has displaced approximately half a million people.{{cite news |first= Syed Saleem |last= Shahzad |title= A sting in Pakistan's al-Qaeda mission |url= http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JI04Df04.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081216084748/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JI04Df04.html |url-status= unfit |archive-date= 2008-12-16 |work= [Asia Times Online](/source/Asia_Times_Online) |date= 2008-09-03 |access-date=2008-09-04 }} == Operations == By September 2008, the trail of intelligence to find [Osama bin Laden](/source/Osama_bin_Laden), had gone cold, and then-[Vice Admiral](/source/Vice_Admiral) [William McRaven](/source/William_McRaven) wanted to jump-start the effort. The target of the raid was a minor [al-Qaeda](/source/al-Qaeda) facilitator. The raid was carried out by [DEVGRU's](/source/SEAL_Team_Six) Blue Squadron.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/09/01/six-little-known-stories-about-secretive-joint-special-operations-command-as-told-in-a-new-book/|title=Six little-known stories about secretive Joint Special Operations Command, as told in a new book|newspaper=the Washington post|date=1 September 2015}} The raid occurred in the village of Mūsā Nīkə ({{lang|ps|موسی نيکه}}) of the [Angoor Adda](/source/Angoor_Adda) region of [South Waziristan](/source/South_Waziristan), [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan), less than one mile (1.6 km) from the border of [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan). The operation was executed at 3:00 AM [local time](/source/Pakistan_Standard_Time) (23h00 in [UTC](/source/Coordinated_Universal_Time)).{{cite web |title=American Forces Attack Militants on Pakistani Soil (Published 2008) |website=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620174642/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/asia/04attack.html?em |archive-date=2023-06-20 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/asia/04attack.html?em}} Though the U.S. has performed [missile](/source/missile) strikes in Pakistan before, this is reportedly the first time U.S. troops have taken ground action within the country against Taliban fighters.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=5718172&page=2|title=U.S. Conducts First Raid on Terrorists in Pakistan|publisher=ABC|access-date=2008-09-04|date=2008-09-03}} According to some early reports, roughly twenty people, possibly including three women and four children,{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/03/content_9765868.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909014852/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/03/content_9765868.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2008|title=Pakistan strongly condemns cross-border killing by coalition forces_English_Xinhua|access-date=14 December 2014}} were killed in the raid.[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C09%5C04%5Cstory_4-9-2008_pg1_3 Suspected US commandos kill 20 in S Waziristan raid] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909101158/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C09%5C04%5Cstory_4-9-2008_pg1_3 |date=September 9, 2008 }} However, it is not clear whether these were civilians or combatants; an American official stated that the women killed were helping the hostile militants. [CH-47 Chinook](/source/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook) [helicopter](/source/helicopter)s carrying 45 [U.S. Navy SEALs](/source/U.S._Navy_SEALs) conducted the raid. Only one of the helicopters landed and unloaded, while the two others flew overhead providing surveillance and aerial support to the other team.[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/asia/04attack.html?pagewanted=2&em American Forces Attack Militants on Pakistani Soil (p. 2)] Two [F-16](/source/F-16) fighter jets also provided air cover.{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17008 |title=Today's Newspaper – The News International |work=The News International, Pakistan |access-date=14 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913000853/http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17008 |archive-date=13 September 2008 }} The forces attacked three houses, owned by "Faujan Wazir, Faiz Mohammad and Nazar Jan Wazir." The entire operation lasted 30 minutes. All of the inhabitants were apparently asleep when the raid occurred, other sources say that as the SEALs scaled the walls of a compound, a resident opened fire on them with a shotgun and women inside began throwing themselves on the SEALs whilst the male occupants fled the houses. After examination, none of the dead proved to be "important terrorists or high-value targets."[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/04/asia/AS-Pakistan.php Zardari says fighting terror is Pakistani priority] A U.S. military official stated that "a small number of militants [were] captured and several others killed," but refused to comment on exact numbers.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5718172&page=1|title=U.S. Conducts First Raid on Terrorists in Pakistan|author=ABC News|work=ABC News|access-date=14 December 2014}} After the SEALs completed their raid, an aircraft nearby reported that Pakistani forces were moving toward the SEALs. After the SEAL squadron commander received the report, he called in two MH-60 Black Hawks and the SEALs extracted at about 3 or 4 A.M., taking a few detainees with them."Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command" by Sean Naylor Chapter 26. == Response == A statement made by the [Government of Pakistan](/source/Government_of_Pakistan) said that "a strong protest by [the] Foreign Office has been lodged with [the] [Government of United States](/source/Government_of_United_States)," and "such acts of aggression do not serve the common cause of fighting terrorism and militancy in the area."{{cite web|url=http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51444&Itemid=2 |title=Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) – ISAF troops kill seven innocent civilians in NWA: ISPR |author=uploader |access-date=14 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923172956/http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51444&Itemid=2 |archive-date=23 September 2015 }} On September 4, the [Pakistani parliament](/source/Pakistani_parliament) passed a resolution condemning the raid and demanding increased American oversight and cooperation with Pakistani officials when conducting covert operations.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-fg-uspakistan5-2008sep05,0,860194.story|title=Pentagon may step up raids in Pakistan|work=Los Angeles Times|date=5 September 2008 |access-date=14 December 2014}} [Anne W. Patterson](/source/Anne_W._Patterson), the [United States Ambassador to Pakistan](/source/United_States_Ambassador_to_Pakistan), was called to the Pakistan [Foreign Office](/source/Foreign_Office), where a protest was lodged.{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/319703/protest-lodged-with-us-ambassador|title=Protest lodged with US ambassador|author=Baqir Sajjad Syed|date=4 September 2008 |access-date=14 December 2014}} In response to the raid, Pakistani Foreign Minister [Shah Mehmood Qureshi](/source/Shah_Mehmood_Qureshi) told the National Assembly on Thursday, "There is no high-value target or known terrorist among the dead ... Only innocent civilians, including women and children, have been targeted."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7597529.stm|title=BBC NEWS – South Asia – Pakistan fury over 'US assault'|date=4 September 2008 |access-date=14 December 2014}} In response to the raid, [United States Secretary of State](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_State) [Condoleezza Rice](/source/Condoleezza_Rice) said, "I don't have anything for you on Pakistan, except to say that obviously we are working very closely with the civilian government there." Rice refused to comment on the possibility of civilian casualties. [Reuters](/source/Reuters) cited U.S. Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, who confirmed that the raid was conducted by U.S. special operations forces.{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/cc5e2f06-7ae1-11dd-adbe-000077b07658|title=Pakistan vows to defend its frontiers after deadly US raid|work=Financial Times|access-date=14 December 2014}} The Chairman of the Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), Gen Tariq Majid, stated that "Pakistan reserves right to retaliate".{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/320013/pakistan-reserves-right-to-retaliate-gen-tariq|title=Pakistan reserves right to retaliate: Gen Tariq|date=6 September 2008 |access-date=14 December 2014}} On Saturday, September 6, 2008, Pakistan blocked a fuel route supplying U.S. and other western forces operating in Afghanistan in response to the raid. "We have told them that we will take action and we have already taken action today. We have stopped the supply of oil and this will tell how serious we are," said Pakistani [Defence Minister](/source/Defense_Minister_of_Pakistan) [Ahmad Mukhtar](/source/Ahmad_Mukhtar).{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-35346520080906|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908034527/http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-35346520080906|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2008|title=Pakistan blocks fuel supply route to Western forces|access-date=14 December 2014}} ==See also== * [List of drone strikes in Pakistan](/source/List_of_drone_strikes_in_Pakistan) *[List of operations conducted by SEAL Team Six](/source/List_of_operations_conducted_by_SEAL_Team_Six) ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{War on Terror}} {{coord missing|Khyber Pakhtunkhwa}} Category:2008 in Pakistan Category:2008 airstrikes Category:Airstrikes of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Category:September 2008 in Pakistan Category:Military raids --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Angoor Adda raid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angoor_Adda_raid) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angoor_Adda_raid?action=history)). 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