In early summer 2009, coalition intelligence in RC-East identified a dual-node insurgent network operating north of Bagram. The network is assessed to support IED production, foreign-fighter movement, financing, and technical support across the Parwan and Kapisa areas. The two primary HVTs, Mullah Farid "Al-Hajjar" Rahimi and Qari Abdul Basir "Al-Masri," are believed to be present in the objective area under the protection of 80–120 armed fighters. ISR has also identified a wider defensive network of observation posts, heavy-weapons positions, mortar sites, weapons caches, and reinforcement routes extending well beyond the immediate compounds.
Operation MOUNTAIN ANVIL is a dawn combined-air operation designed to isolate both objectives before a simultaneous rotary-wing assault. F-15Es will strike hardened positions and heavy-weapons sites, F-14B(U)s will provide long-range surveillance and precision engagement of time-sensitive targets, F-16s will interdict northern and eastern reinforcement routes, and F/A-18s will provide flexible strike and close-support capability as the situation develops. Their purpose is to prevent enemy forces outside the immediate objective area from massing against the assault force and to suppress threats that rotary-wing assets cannot safely or effectively control alone.
Once the outer cordon is established, attack helicopters and assault forces will move on DELTA and TGT House 1 simultaneously to capture or neutralize the HVTs and exploit both sites for intelligence. Fixed-wing aircraft will remain essential throughout the fight, striking reinforcements, mortar teams, escape routes, and emerging threats while protecting the extraction. The operation depends on tempo: isolate the network, seize the objectives, exploit the sites, and withdraw before surrounding insurgent forces can organize a coherent response.
