US troops return to mountains

By Spec. Karlene Hemerly-Fluck

Coalition forces returned to the Shahi Kot mountain range in Afghanistan on June 2 for the first time since Operation Anaconda.

Operation Dragon Fury could be considered part two of Operation Anaconda. Like its predecessor held in March 2002, the operation was conducted to root out al Qa’eda and anti-coalition militias suspected of still operating in the valley near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

“Traffic definitely fluctuates in this area. Given the information received in the past month, this is the main channel, that we know, people are crossing the borders,” said 1st Lt. Mike Swift, an intelligence officer in 82 Airborne Div.

Through different intelligence sources, information was received by coalition forces that there was a possible cell of anti-coalition militia and al Qa’eda with working plans to attack coalitions forces serving in the War on Terror in different areas of Afghanistan, said Maj Jack Marr, XO 2 Bn, 505th Parachute Inf Regt.

“The operation was conducted to deny anti-coalition militia sanctuary and prevent further attacks against non-governmental organizations, coalition forces and equipment in the Shahi Kot region,” he said.

Dragon Fury consisted of a brigade-size element of US troops centered around the 505th Parachute Inf Regt and the Italian
army’s Task Force Nibbio

More than 20 US aircraft – including Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache helicopters – performed ground and air assaults during the operation.

By mission’s end 21 people were taken into control by U.S. and Italian forces and are now being detained at an undisclosed holding area.

“The bottom line is, it could have been a very hostile area and we went in to execute a complex mission. It was executed very well and the mission was accomplished,” said 2Lt Jay Ross, chemical officer 2 Bn, 505th PIR.

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