Last updated at 09:26, Wednesday, 04 August 2010

Soldiers serving with Somme Company, the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, have been working with the Afghan National Army to seize and hold the last Taliban stronghold of Sayedebad in southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers serving with Somme Company, the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, have seized a Taliban stronghold

• Video: Duke of Lancaster Regiment soldiers in Afghanistan

Moving out under the cover of darkness, soldiers from 1 LANCS, the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, 21 Engineer Regiment and the Counter IED Taskforce patrolled through fields and waist high irrigation ditches to reach the outskirts of the town.

In a swift move under the protection of fire support, two compounds to the south of the village were cleared of possible insurgents and IEDs.

Major Darren Newman, Officer Commanding Somme Company the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment said the Company and its Afghan partners, had systematically cleared each compound.

Once a foothold had been achieved, and defensive positions established in the compounds, two joint units of British and Afghan soldiers moved forward clearing through the town on the west and east sides from the south.

At each stage, Afghan security forces were used to interact with the local Sayedebad population.

First published at 09:13, Wednesday, 04 August 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk