Battle of Alasay The Battle of Alasay , codenamed Operation Dinner Out , was a military operation carried out by French troops of the Chasseurs Alpins ' s 27e Battalion and the Afghan National Army ( ANA ) 1st " Kandak " ( battalion ) between the 14th and 23 March 2009 . Marine Embedded Training Team 6 - 4 as well as other US units provided air support , both with attack helicopters and A - 10 and F - 15E strike aircraft . The operation enabled the construction of two bases for the Afghan Army in the Alasay valley , which had been guerilla control since 2006 . Context . The sector of Alasay valley , in Kapisa Province , had been under guerrilla control since 2006 . The ISAF decided to regain control of the sector . Given the proximity of two ISAF bases near the village of Nijrab and in Tagab , the French Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa ( GTIA ) , harboured there , was tasked with the mission . The GTIA is composed of The 4th Company of the 27 RC received the callsign " Vert " ( " Green " ) ; it was composed of several section , label " Vert 20 " , " Vert 30 " , " Vert 40 " . The 2nd Company received the callsign of " Jonquille " ( Narcissus pseudonarcissus ; by tradition , chasseurs alpins never utter the word " yellow " , but use the colour of the plant as a metonymy ) . The plan envisioned construction of two outposts for the Afghan Army . The battle . 14 March . At 4 : 30 , the 4th company of the 27 BCA departed Nijrab in four CH - 47 Chinook helicopters and occupied heights commanding the Southern region of Alasay valley , with " Vert 10 " directly above the points where the outposts were to be built ; " Vert 20 " and " Vert 30 " covering the surrounding ; and " Vert 70 " threatening the access path from the South . Around the same time , elements of the Afghan Army , with several armoured vehicles and two battle tanks , approached their destination . They were supported by the 2nd Company of the 27 BCA and by the GCM . Over the following hours , two mortar sections of the 93 RAC , labeled " Vert 60 " and " Jonquille 60 " , were installed South of Alasay valley , as forwards elements were now out of range for support from Tagab base . At 7 : 17 , elements of the Afghan Army came under fire ; " Jonquille 40 " answered in kind , firing several Milan missiles . Four minutes later , " Jonquille 20 " found itself under sporadic dragunov fire , which stopped to reoccur half an hour later , without causing casualties . " Vert 30 " was under fire , and called for air support , provided at 8 : 00 by elements of the US Air Force . Around the same time , three AMX - 10 RC moved to the village of Shekut . Meanwhile , the 2nd company of the Afghan Army refused to move forwards ; the captain was relieved of duty , the soldiers dispatched to other companies , and the 1st Afghan company took over , moving towards Alasay Valley . It arrived 5 minutes later with the GCM and the AMX - 10 RC , only to come under fire from two guerrilla units 600 metres away . These positions were pounded by the armoured unit and put out of action , allowing " Jonquille 30 " to close in and destroy it with small arm fire . At 8 : 45 , " Jonquille 20 " moved to support " Jonquille 30 " and provide assistance to two wounded of the Afghan Army . At the same time , guerrilla elements stormed the positions of " Vert 30 " and " Vert 20 " , while US helicopters pounded caves occupied by the guerilla . At 9 : 30 , " Jonquille 30 " sustained sniper fire , prompting the deployment of two 20mm - equipped VAB - C20 to complement " Jonquille 20 " and " 30 " . During the following hours , several sporadic engagements took place around Alasay . The French sustained their first casualty at 12 : 51 , when a Milan operator of " Vert 30 " came under Dragunov fire and was wounded by shrapnel after the launcher was hit . The soldier was evacuated to Bagram at 14 : 41 . Between 15 : 00 and 15 : 30 , guerrilla elements attempted to infiltrate between " Vert 20 " and " Vert 30 " , but were prevented by small arms fire and air support . An apparent calm was then restored , though women were seen evacuating the sector . A 18 : 00 , guerrilla units showed themselves all around Alasay and stormed the village , while at the same time , " Vert 20 " and " Vert 30 " were also attacked ; fighting lasted for one hour before the guerrilla broke contact under the cover of a hail of RPGs . One of the rockets hit a VAB - C20 , killing the driver , Corporal Nicolas Belda . Over the following hours , guerrilla elements retreated to the East , while the ISAF forces strengthened their positions . The dead and 5 Afghan Army wounded were evacuated at 22 : 10 . 15 March . From midnight , " Vert 20 " and " 30 " left the sector on foot , supported by the GCM , and rejoined Tagab . At 6 : 47 , " Jonquille 30 " destroyed a guerrilla group attempting to storm Alasay . At 7 : 00 , elements of the Afghan Army arrived on BMP vehicles . One hour later , construction of the outposts began . " Vert 20 " and " 30 " departed around 14 : 00 . 16 and 17 March . Late in the evening of the 16th , " Vert 10 " and " Vert 70 " departed by helicopter . The next day at 18 : 00 , the outpost of Alasay was completed and construction of the second outpost began in Shekut . Aftermath . After the fighting had ended , several guerilla groups were persuaded by local tribal elders to lay down their arms , in exchange for amnesty and cash incentives . While their long - term commitment to peace remains doubtful , the coalition offensive in Alasay , along with a government - sponsored reconciliation process , is said to have caused a clear improvement in the security situation , according to local leaders .