Operation Anaconda Essay

Operation Anaconda: The Road to Victory
Operation Anaconda was a strategic effort to remove all al-Qaeda fighters and their allies in Shahikot Valley located in Paktia province bordering Pakistan. This was due to the brutal attack of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001. The strategical planning and preparation for battle leading up to the invasion was complex. The uncertainties of organizational structure and integrating the forces would prove difficult in planning which U.S. Forces would have command and control over the operation. Amidst the chaos, the U.S. Forces and Coalition Forces would find themselves determined to execute the battle plan and seize the opportunity to prevail over a determined enemy. Commanders

Limited interactions between the various commands would further create complications and chaos amongst the joint forces. The plan going into Shahikot Valley was to set up perimeter defense that would prevent the enemy from coming into the valley or leaving. Instead, the plan to set up a perimeter defense would change to the hammer and anvil plan. On 02 March 2002, hours before the invasion the United States Air Force had scheduled to drop bombs in Shahikot Valley on 13 known enemy targets. During this time, Special Forces were in the area maneuvering through an area known as the Whale. This immediately created danger for the Special Forces in the area and they would have to radio the United States Air Force to cease their operation (Kugler,

Forces and Coalition Forces the ability to assault into Shahikot Valley. However, the assault would last for seven days under intense battle. By 09 March 2002, ground forces controlled the valley allowing Afghan Forces to continue to sweep the area of any enemy. On 12 March 2002, the majority of the enemy either was dead or had fled the valley. U.S. Forces and Coalition Forces would continue to sweep the area for six more days. On 18 March 2002, Operation Anaconda was a success and the area was in full control of U.S. Forces and Coalition Forces. Finally, U.S. Forces and Coalition Forces seized the opportunity to prevail over a formidable foe. During the course of the battle, eight Americans would lose their life and 80-wounded (Headquarter,