OSPREY Fortress BLISHINIC Afghanistan Cave Complexes 1979-2004 Mountain strongholds of the Mujahideen, Taliban & Al Qaeda Mir Bahmanyar - Illustrated by lan Palmeex pbb in Grattan n 208 by Cre bing Eis Cour, ‘Chapel Wy Boer Cnord OX2 9 Unie Kingdom. al loorprypainng com [Migs reverse. Apart om ay ir ang for he perp of pra sy research erin or evn. permite vce the Copa Ds an ates ‘Ac 1968, no part pubes may be eprocicea.tre ie eee pan or aramid in any form orb ary means eeczon leca chemca mechanic, pte porconyne recording or eters wiht te por writen peemson of oe copyataumer Enq she beads othe Pubes ISON 10417676, SERIES EDITORS Marcs Cowper ané Noa Bogdan tor los Pblahing Onor UE (vnilosbhngcom) Desig Ken Vd Grape Design. Cambridge UK Index by Da lornington apy The Map Se Lt ‘Oxgnated by Grumere Dial raging Lede UK ented and noun by Lex Pring Company Let ac ne rece or hi book abl om he Bh Ura Crore Direc UK, PO Box 14. Wligborough "Nera: NN 2A, Uneed Kom Eat ofo@orpreysreceauk ‘Osprey Det USA, co MB biting PO Box 729 Prepac Av, Oreo WI S420. Emat:nfo@orpeydrecuracom se ospreypubshingcom Acknowledgments Special thanks to Sara van Valkenburg and Lester Grau of FMSO: (Chris Osman of Tactical Assault Gear; Karin Martinez, 10th Mountain Division PAO: Major Hugh Cate Ill 10st Airborne Division PAO; Major Mate Morgan, USMC PAO; and Val Webb and Mark Brender from Space Imaging. The Fortress Study Group (FSG) The object ofthe FSG isto advance the education of the public in the study ofall aspects of fortifications and their armaments. expecially works constructed to mount or resist arilery The FSG holds an annual conference in September over a long weekend with visits and evening lectures, an annual tour abroad lasting bout eighe days, and an annual Members’ Day. “The FSG journal FORT is published annually. and its newsletter Casemate is published three times a year. Membership is International For further deta please contact: “The Secretary, c/o 6 Lanark Place, London W9 185, UKContents Introduction The country Chronology Design and development ‘Caves: natural and manmade + Geology Weapons systems at war Aircraft + Munitions Offensive operations Soviet procedures against korez systems + USS. procedures in tunnel operations Defensive operations ‘The Mujahideen/Talban/Al Queda + Defending» cave complex The sites at war The Battle for Zhawar Kili + The reconnaissance in force at Zhawar Kili during Operation Enduring Freedom + US.combined arms during Operation Anaconda Afghanistan today Bibliography and further reading Books and articles + Websites Index 24 38 51 61 62 64