Operation Anaconda

In March 2002 fighting in the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was renewed as coalition forces made a massive push against about 500 to 1000 al Qaeda and Taliban forces (many of whom were with their families) in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat, in an operation code-named Operation Anaconda, after the anaconda boa constrictor.

Operations Ptarmigan, Snipe and Condor

The Royal Marines subsequently went on to launch Operation Snipe ('a dangerous "seek and destroy" assault on al-Qaeda troops in Afghanistan') and Operation Condor (a hastily prepared operation after an Australian special forces team was engaged by a group of al-Qaeda). Unfortunately, as before, there were no Taliban or al-Qaeda forces to destroy, and once again the political spin had got way ahead of the situation on the ground. No shots were fired in anger and no prisoners detained.

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By the end of April British commanders admitted that with such an elusive enemy there was little point in deploying such a large force. A UK defense source put it succinctly: 'We have got a big, highly trained, well-equipped hammer and currently can't find a decent-sized nail to hit.'

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An Afghani villager was quoted as saying, "There are not and never have been any Arabs in this valley". "The English are wasting their time. But they are welcome because once they have verified that there are none the Americans will not bomb our villages."

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After six weeks in the field British forces in Afghanistan borrowed a well-worn trick from their American allies - they changed their war aims to suit the situation on the ground. 'The aims of the British and American military operation in Afghanistan are being subtly redefined in the face of unexpected difficulties', said one report at the end of April 2002. 'Senior British officers in Afghanistan and the UK are echoing the US change of emphasis. They now say that denying al-Qaeda and former Taliban elements a chance to rally and recuperate for a spring offensive is as important an objective as destroying them - a significant retreat from the objectives that were originally outlined.'

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By the middle of July the last group of British troops had returned to Bagram airbase.

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Note: Needs information about how JTF2 was involved.

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