Essay On Operation Anaconda

Operation Anaconda was the first large scale military operation that involved conventional military forces in Afghanistan. The goal of the operation was to eliminate the al-Qaeda fighters and seize key terrain in the mountainous Paktia Province. Part of that key terrain was the Shahikot Valley where an estimated two hundred enemy fighters had dug in and created an enemy stronghold. A contingent of special operations forces was assembled and given the task of establishing observation posts and reinforcing friendly Afghan fighters in preparation to seize Objective Remington, the valley floor nicknamed The Whale. Upon arrival at the landing zone where the observation post would be established, the MH-47 Chinook helicopters were met with small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenade fire that would eventually leave two Chinooks disabled and seven United States service members Killed in Action.
The primary objective for Operation Anaconda was to secure the Shahikot Valley. In securing the valley, coalition forces would rid the valley of any and all al-Qaeda forces that had taken up safe haven in the valley. The Shahikot Valley’s close proximity to the Pakistani border allowed the al-Qaeda fighters to have freedom of movement across the borders and allowed for a complicated supply
After the initial attempted push into the valley by Coalition Forces, it was made obvious that the al-Qaeda forces were much more prepared for a fight than intelligence had planned for. The call was made to insert MAKO 30 and MAKO 31 at strategic points to establish observation points and call for fire on enemy locations so the ground forces could continue their push through the valley. The teams would be dropped off under the cover of darkness just prior to midnight on March 3nd at offset landing zones and move into position prior to sunrise on the 4th of