Battle of Sangin (2010)

The Battle of Sangin (2010) was a several month clearing operation during the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) by units of the United States Marine Corps, primarily 3rd Battalion 7th Marines from May of 2010 till October of 2010 in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.3rd Battalion 7th Marines took over from the British forces and pushed in Taliban strongholds, establishing outposts and bases that would later be used by 3rd Battalion 5th Marines. 3rd Battalion 7th Marines suffered heavy casualties as well as 3rd Battalion 5th Marines which lost 25 Marines were killed and 200 were wounded during the operation.

In September 2010, Liam Fox, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence, announced that northern Helmand would be transferred to the U. S. Marines. The British troops withdrew on September 20, 2010 to be replaced by 3/7. 3/7's Marine combat units aggressively pursued Taliban in and around Sangin in 2010 until they were replaced by 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in early October 2010. Members of 3rd Battalion 5th Marines conducted operations in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of War in Afghanistan (2001–present) between September 2010 and April 2011.Also attached to 3/5 was Kilo company 3/25, Echo company 2/9 and corpsman from RCT2.They came to aid 3/5 because the number of casualties. They were there from Dec 2010 until Feb 2011. The area was handed over by Echo company 2nd Bn 9th Marines to Echo company 2nd Bn 8th Marines to aid in 3/5's operations. 3/5 secured the Sangin area. Twenty-five of the battalion's Marines were killed in action, including the son of Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, head of the Marine Forces Reserve, and 200 were wounded. In 520 firefights the battalion killed or wounded an estimated 470 enemy fighters and cleared the Sangin area of the enemy.