Operation Pickaxe-Handle
British-led NATO offensive in Afghanistan
title: "Operation Pickaxe-Handle" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2007-in-the-war-in-afghanistan-(2001–2021)", "nato-operations-in-afghanistan", "military-operations-of-the-war-in-afghanistan-(2001–2021)-involving-the-united-kingdom", "military-operations-of-the-war-in-afghanistan-(2001–2021)-involving-the-united-states", "military-operations-of-the-war-in-afghanistan-(2001–2021)-involving-canada", "military-operations-of-the-war-in-afghanistan-(2001–2021)-involving-denmark", "military-operations-of-the-war-in-afghanistan-(2001–2021)-involving-norway", "21st-century-in-helmand-province", "may-2007-in-afghanistan", "june-2007-in-afghanistan"] description: "British-led NATO offensive in Afghanistan" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pickaxe-Handle" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary British-led NATO offensive in Afghanistan ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox military conflict"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| conflict | Operation Pickaxe-Handle |
| partof | the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) |
| image | Airstrike Sangin April2007.JPEG |
| image_size | 250px |
| caption | Airstrike in Sangin, 10 April 2007. |
| date | 14 June 2007 |
| place | Helmand province, Afghanistan |
| result | Tactical Coalition victory |
| Strategic outcome unclear | |
| combatant1 | United Kingdom |
| Canada | |
| United States | |
| Estonia | |
| Denmark | |
| Norway | |
| Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | |
| combatant2 | Afghanistan Taliban |
| commander1 | United Kingdom Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page |
| commander2 | Afghanistan Tor Jan |
| Afghanistan Haji Nika | |
| strength1 | United Kingdom ~1,000 |
| Afghanistan 500 | |
| Norway ~150 | |
| Canada Unknown | |
| United States Unknown | |
| Estonia Unknown | |
| Denmark Unknown | |
| Total:~2,000 | |
| strength2 | ~1,000 insurgents |
| casualties1 | United States 7 killed |
| United Kingdom 3 killed, 24 wounded | |
| Canada 1 killed | |
| casualties2 | Over 100 confirmed killed |
| ~150+ (British estimates) | |
| :: |
| conflict = Operation Pickaxe-Handle | partof = the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) | image = Airstrike Sangin April2007.JPEG | image_size = 250px | caption = Airstrike in Sangin, 10 April 2007. | date = 14 June 2007 | place = Helmand province, Afghanistan | result = Tactical Coalition victory Strategic outcome unclear | combatant1 = United Kingdom Canada United States Estonia Denmark Norway Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | combatant2 = Afghanistan Taliban | commander1 = United Kingdom Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page | commander2 = Afghanistan Tor Jan Afghanistan Haji Nika | strength1 = United Kingdom ~1,000 Afghanistan 500 Norway ~150 Canada Unknown United States Unknown Estonia Unknown Denmark Unknown Total:~2,000 | strength2 = ~1,000 insurgents | casualties1 = United States 7 killed United Kingdom 3 killed, 24 wounded Canada 1 killed | casualties2 = Over 100 confirmed killed ~150+ (British estimates)
Operation Lastay Kulang or Pickaxe Handle was a British-led NATO offensive in the southern Helmand province of Afghanistan. (The name of the operation is Pashto for "pickaxe-handle".) Lastay Kulang began on 30 May and ended on 14 June 2007, with 2000 ISAF and Afghan National Army troops taking part. The mission was a direct follow-up of Operation Achilles that ended on the same day.
At around 4:00 local time on 30 May 2007, ISAF and ANSF personnel advanced towards the village of Kajaki Sofle, ten kilometres south-west of the town of Kajaki, to remove a Taliban force whose presence threatened the security and stability of the Lower Sangin Valley. During the night, elements of the American 82nd Airborne Division mounted an aerial assault on a Taliban compound. One of the Chinook helicopters taking part in the raid was apparently hit by an RPG round and crashed, killing five Americans, a Briton and a Canadian on board.
By 2 June, NATO claimed to have surrounded several pockets of Taliban fighters.
The Royal Engineers have also started several reconstruction projects in the area, such as digging irrigation ditches, to try to win over local support.
On 5 June, a gun battle and air strikes killed an estimated two dozen Taliban fighters in Southern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan government reported.
Upwards of 80 Taliban fighters may have drowned in two separate incidents in early June, when the makeshift boats they were travelling on sank as they attempted to cross the Helmand River. The sinkings were witnessed by NATO helicopters.
A British soldier was killed in a firefight at a Taliban compound to the north east of Gereshk on 6 June.
Another NATO soldier was killed in the south of the country that same day.
On 8 June, a battle and air strikes in southern Afghanistan left 30 suspected Taliban dead or wounded, the Ministry of Defense reported.
Outcome
The outcome of "Lastay Kulang" is disputed. NATO spokespersons claimed the operation was a success, having cleared Sangin and Gereshk of Taliban and securing the Kajaki District. A new governor has been installed in Sangin and Shuras (councils) of tribal elders have been organised to hear their concerns. Conversely, the Taliban claim that they still control much of Kajaki, and some of the Sangin districts. These claims are confirmed by the local residents, who complain that the Taliban returned as soon as NATO and ANA troops had left, and that the security situation has not improved at all.
References
References
- (3 June 2007). "Our forgotten war". telegraph.co.uk.
- Harding, Thomas. (6 June 2007). "Afghanistan approaching 'all-out war'". telegraph.co.uk.
- (31 May 2007). "UK-led operation helps ISAF take control in northern Helmand (VIDEO)". mod.uk.
- (2 June 2007). "Taliban feel the pressure in northern Helmand". mod.uk.
- Knight, Sam (and agencies). (5 June 2007). "Osama sent me a letter, says Taleban fighter".
- (6 June 2007). "British soldier killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday". mod.uk.
- (19 June 2007). "Helmand Residents Question NATO Success Claims". [[Institute for War and Peace Reporting.
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