Afghanistan Cave Complexes 19792004: Mountain strongholds of the Mujahideen, Taliban & Al Qaeda (Fortress, 26)

Following the Soviet invasion in 1979, the Mujahideen defenders of Afghanistan developed and reinforced many natural cave systems to use as supply bases and defensive positions. The Taliban and Al Qaeda further strengthened these positions in the 1990s. Following the events of September 11, 2001, these cave systems have once more come to prominence and sites such as Tora Bora and Zhawar Kili have featured in news headlines around the world. This title provides an analysis of these caves and underground systems, and discusses the U.S.-led Coalition's tactical approach to dislodging the enemy from these fortified positions. Following the Soviet invasion in 1979, the Mujahideen defenders of Afghanistan developed and reinforced many natural cave systems to use as supply bases and defensive positions. The Taliban and Al Qaeda further developed these positions throughout the 1990s. Following the events of September 11, 2001, these cave systems have once more come to prominence and sites such as Tora Bora ("Black Dust," a series of individual caves) and Zhawar Kili (a large complex in eastern Afghanistan) have featured in news headlines around the world. This title provides a detailed analysis and visual documentation of these caves and underground systems. It also discusses the Coalition's tactical approach to dislodging the enemy from these fortified positions This title provides a detailed analysis and visual documentation of the caves and underground systems in Afghanistan constructed between 1979 and 2001. It also discusses the Anti-Terror Coalition's tactical approach to clearing these complexes, analyzing the military hardware and the assault teams tasked with dislodging the enemy from these fortified positions One of the major problems the Soviet Union faced during its invasion into Afghanistan was the difficulty in expelling Mujahideen from the cave and tunnel complexes dug into the sides of mountains.