Mazar-e-Sharif Airfield
36°42'25"N 67°12'33"E
As of 08 November 2001 Afghanistan's opposition forces were struggling to advance against the Taleban in their efforts to re-capture the strategic northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Opposition forces under General Rashid Dostum faced stiff resistance as they pushed forward from territory recaptured from the Taleban near Mazar-e-Sharif. Within a few days, however, the Taleban retreated from the strategically-important town of Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. They retreated from towns in surrounding provinces as well.
In late November 2001 Northern Alliance troops put down a violent revolt by captured foreign soldiers Foreign prisoners who had escaped from their detention cells fought a pitched battle with Northern Alliance troops for three days inside a mud fortress in Mazar-e-Sharif. Some two-hundred additional Alliance soldiers were brought in to put down the rebellion. The rebellion began when hundreds of Pakistani, Arab, and Chechen fighters captured from nearby Kunduz province seized weapons and tried to escape. Northern Alliance troops, backed by U-S warplanes and U-S and British special forces, killed most of the rioting prisoners who fought back with machine guns, rockets and mortars. – Five service members were injured 25 November 2001 during a "friendly fire" incident during the prison riot near Mazar-e Sharif. None of the injuries was life threatening.
As of early January 2002 approximately 200 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, known as Task Force Commando, were operating from the Mazar-e-Sharif Airfield. The Mazar-e-Sharif Airfield's runway has a length of 3,100 meters/10,500 feet.
As of late January 2002 control of Mazar-e-Sharif was divided among three warlords who are long-time rivals. Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum represents the Uzbeks, Commander Mohaqaq represents the Hazara tribes, and Commander Uftad Ata represents the Tajiks and is a supporter of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani.
| Footage of airstrike on a tank near the
Mazar-e-Sharif Airfield used during DoD news briefing of October 16, 2001 |
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| Click on the small image to view the video | |
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| The video clip above shows a tank near the airfield at Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan. The vehicle is in a defensive position as it is hit with two weapons, and struck with some precision. | |
