Operation Kaika

Operation Kaika
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
DateJune 23 24, 2006
Location
Result

American-Afghan victory

  • Taliban retreat
  • Heavy Afghan police casualties
Belligerents
Coalition:
 United States
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Taliban
Commanders and leaders
Captain Sheffield F. Ford III Unknown
Strength
17
48
8 insurgents (AWD)
200 insurgents (US Mil.)
Casualties and losses
2 killed
3 killed
120 killed

Operation Kaika was a joint operation between American Special Forces and Afghan National Army soldiers, to establish a control base as part of the larger Operation Mountain Thrust, and clear Taliban fighters from three villages about 12 miles southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan in June 2006.

The battle took an unexpected twist when Afghan forces "laid siege" to the American-supported troops, "convinced they had the Americans cornered", the militants spearheaded three large assaults over the course of three days. It became "one of the most sustained battles" of the war.