Operation Anaconda
Operation anaconda was US operation against the Taliban. The operation took place in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat. This operation was the first large-scale battle in the United States War in Afghanistan since the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001.
The operation consisted of 1,700 airlifted U.S. troops and 1,000 pro-government Afghan militia battled between 300 too 1,000 al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters to obtain control of the valley. The Taliban and al-Qaida forces fired mortars and heavy machine guns from entrenched positions in the caves and ridges of the mountainous terrain at U.S. forces attempting to secure the area. Afghan Taliban commander Maulavi Saifur Rehman Mansoor later led Taliban reinforcements to join the battle. U.S. forces had estimated the strength of the rebels in the Shahi-Kot Valley at 150 to 200, but later information suggested the actual strength was of 500 to 1,000 fighters. The U.S. forces estimated they had killed at least 500 fighters over the duration of the battle, however journalists later noted that only 23 bodies were found.
United States Air Force Tactical Air Combat Controllers saved the lives of many of the solders and the entire operation by call in close air support, strafe, and bombing runs. The air operations took out machine gun nest and bunker that were pinning down American troops in the valley. The were also mortar teams raining shells down on to United States and Coalition troops in the valley that were destroyed by United States Air Force Tactical Air Combat Controllers from there’re observation points on each side of the valley. The Tactical Air Combat Controllers air strikes allowed the pinned down troops to make much needed headway to find better cover and state returning fire on the machine gun nest and mortar teams. The United States and Coalition troops finally took the valley after heavy fire and sustained losses, which were drastly lessened by the United States Air Force
The operation consisted of 1,700 airlifted U.S. troops and 1,000 pro-government Afghan militia battled between 300 too 1,000 al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters to obtain control of the valley. The Taliban and al-Qaida forces fired mortars and heavy machine guns from entrenched positions in the caves and ridges of the mountainous terrain at U.S. forces attempting to secure the area. Afghan Taliban commander Maulavi Saifur Rehman Mansoor later led Taliban reinforcements to join the battle. U.S. forces had estimated the strength of the rebels in the Shahi-Kot Valley at 150 to 200, but later information suggested the actual strength was of 500 to 1,000 fighters. The U.S. forces estimated they had killed at least 500 fighters over the duration of the battle, however journalists later noted that only 23 bodies were found.
United States Air Force Tactical Air Combat Controllers saved the lives of many of the solders and the entire operation by call in close air support, strafe, and bombing runs. The air operations took out machine gun nest and bunker that were pinning down American troops in the valley. The were also mortar teams raining shells down on to United States and Coalition troops in the valley that were destroyed by United States Air Force Tactical Air Combat Controllers from there’re observation points on each side of the valley. The Tactical Air Combat Controllers air strikes allowed the pinned down troops to make much needed headway to find better cover and state returning fire on the machine gun nest and mortar teams. The United States and Coalition troops finally took the valley after heavy fire and sustained losses, which were drastly lessened by the United States Air Force