[2] In 2009, US commanders stated that the valley was strategically insignificant due to its remote location, but the Taliban and al Qaeda would later use the region to launch attacks into neighboring Afghan provinces.

[2] The operation involved several nighttime air assaults against remote mountain villages in the aim of penetrating deep into the Pech River Valley.

Two days later, US troops encountered heavy resistance, and five soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division were killed during a nine-hour-long firefight in the Watapur area.

Kiowa Warriors from Task Force Shooters (C Troop 6-6) and AH-64D Apaches (B Co 1-10 ATK) provided close air support to the beleaguered ABU platoon who was surrounded, isolated and low on ammunition.

These weapon systems and the ammunition recovered were assessed as intended to be distributed to local INS and used against the near-by COP Honaker-Miracle.