Operation Red Wings, also referred to as the Battle of Abbas Ghar, stands as a pivotal and tragic episode within the broader context of the U.S.-led Global War on Terror. Conducted in June 2005, this operation has received significant scholarly and public attention, notably through its depiction in Lone Survivor, both a bestselling book by Marcus Luttrell and a subsequent film adaptation. The engagement is marked by extraordinary heroism, profound sacrifice, and the severe realities encountered by special operations forces in Afghanistan’s formidable terrain. 

RIGHT: United States Navy file photo of Navy SEALs operating in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From left to right, Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, of Cupertino, Calif; Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Daniel R. Healy, of Exeter, N.H.; Quartermaster 2nd Class James Suh, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell; Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Shane Patton, of Boulder City, Nev.; and Lt. Michael P. Murphy, of Patchogue, N.Y. With the exception of Luttrell, all were killed June 28, 2005, by enemy forces while supporting Operation Red Wings.

Operation Red Wings, sometimes overshadowed by its cinematic retelling, remains a subject of study among military historians and analysts. It is commonly cited in professional military education curricula as an example of joint operations, rules of engagement under counterinsurgency, and the importance of cultural literacy in modern military campaigns. 

The operation’s primary objective was the disruption of Taliban-aligned anti-coalition militia activity in the Pech district of Kunar Province, a region recognized for its challenging mountainous topography and longstanding history as a stronghold for insurgent groups. Central to the conflict was Ahmad Shah (also known as Mohammad Ismail), a warlord from Nangarhar Province intent on expanding his influence within the wider fundamentalist movement. According to the U.S. Navy’s after-action reports and contemporary intelligence assessments, Shah’s cell represented a direct threat not only to Coalition forces but also to the fragile political progress underway in Afghanistan, particularly the historic parliamentary elections scheduled for later in 2005 (Fussell et al., U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, 2007). 

The operation originated as a joint effort involving both U.S. conventional forces (notably elements of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines) and special operations units, including Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 10 and Army Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). 

On 27 June 2005, a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team was inserted into the mountainous terrain by a 160th SOAR MH-47 Chinook helicopter, with the mission of locating and positively identifying Ahmad Shah and gathering intelligence on his militant cell. The team was under the command of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, accompanied by Petty Officers Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and Marcus Luttrell (Department of Defense, 2006). 

After insertion, the team positioned themselves on a ridge, utilizing high ground for both concealment and observation. According to military records and Luttrell’s account, their cover was compromised when they encountered local goat herders. Despite concerns about operational security, the team opted to release the herders, adhering to rules of engagement and ethical considerations, fully aware that this decision might endanger their mission. Shortly after the herders departed, intelligence suggests that Taliban fighters were notified of the SEALs’ presence, either directly by the herders or by Shah’s own reconnaissance elements.

LEFT: Lt. Michael Murphy, USN (SEAL) and Sonar Technician 2nd Class, USN (SEAL) Matthew Axelson.

By mid-afternoon, the SEAL team came under intense attack from an estimated force of 80 to over 100 fighters (Naval Postgraduate School, 2007). The Taliban insurgents wielded AK-47 rifles, RPGs, and PKM machine guns, and quickly gained advantageous terrain. Despite suffering immediate casualties and sustaining serious wounds, the SEALs demonstrated formidable resistance, executing tactical withdrawals under hostile fire across nearly vertical slopes and heavily wooded areas. Lt. Murphy, despite being mortally wounded, deliberately exposed himself to hostile fire to establish radio contact with headquarters, an action for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 

Concurrently, a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) composed of additional Navy SEALs and 160th SOAR operators was rapidly mobilized. The initial extraction effort involved an MH-47 Chinook, which, as it approached the hot landing zone, was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Taliban forces, leading to the deaths of all 16 personnel on board (eight Navy SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers). This incident remains the largest single-day loss of life for Naval Special Warfare since World War II. 

Petty Officers Dietz and Axelson both died from wounds sustained during the protracted firefight. Marcus Luttrell, though seriously injured, evaded death by moving through the mountainous terrain, ultimately being sheltered by Mohammad Gulab, a local Pashtun villager. Gulab’s decision to protect Luttrell, in accordance with the Pashtunwali principle of 'nanawatai' (protection granted to a guest), represents a significant intersection of local cultural codes with modern warfare. 

According to Navy SEALs: The Combat History of the Deadliest Warriors on the Planet by Don Mann and similar sources, Gulab and his fellow villagers faced repeated threats from Taliban fighters determined to capture Luttrell, but they persisted in hiding and safeguarding him until U.S. forces could affect a rescue. On 2 July 2005, Luttrell was secured by a U.S. search-and-rescue team and evacuated for medical care. 

By the conclusion of Operation Red Wings, 19 American personnel had lost their lives, making it among the costliest U.S. operations in Afghanistan. The operation underscored the high risks associated with special reconnaissance in hostile environments, highlighting vulnerabilities in communication, interagency coordination, and the challenges of rapid exfiltration in rugged terrain (United States Navy, Medal of Honor citation for Lt. Murphy). The events triggered an urgent reassessment in U.S. operational procedures, particularly regarding intelligence sharing, the composition and readiness of QRF elements, and cultural engagement with indigenous populations. Red Wings also cast a spotlight on the complexities of asymmetrical warfare, where morality, ethical dilemmas, and local alliances profoundly influence outcomes. 

References

Department of Defense. (2006). Citation for the Medal of Honor awarded to Lt. Michael P. Murphy.

Fussell, C., et al. “Case Study Red Wings.” U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, 2007.

Mann, Don. Navy SEALs: The Combat History of the Deadliest Warriors on the Planet. Skyhorse, 2011.

United States Navy. Naval Special Warfare Command, official statements and after-action reports.