Staged by a Central Intelligence Agency-sponsored Royalist Laotian irregular regiment, Operation Phoutah was a defensive strike against an oncoming offensive from the 50,000 North Vietnamese troops safeguarding the major transshipment point centered on Tchepone, Laos.

The Royalist objective was the capture and occupation of Moung Phalane, which was needed to continue staging guerrilla raids on the Trail.

As a result, during 1969 and 1970, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) urged its guerrilla battalions to raid the Trail to disrupt or interdict the supply lines.

Eventually, the South Vietnamese launched Operation Lam Son 719 on 8 February 1971 in a failed incursion to cut the Trail.

[1][2][3] At the end of January 1971, the People's Army of Vietnam captured the town of Moung Phalane from the CIA-sponsored irregular military battalion, Bataillon Guerrier 303 (BG 303).

[4] To counter this, the PAVN sent portions of six infantry battalions to retake Moung Phalane before the rainy season interfered with communist logistics.

To counter this, Savannakhet Unit of the CIA forwarded Bataillon Guerrilla 306 (BG 306) in an eastward truck convoy of reinforcements on 30 April 1971.

BGs 301 and 302 at Moung Phalane were assaulted by the PAVN for the next three days; the guerrilla battalions suffered heavy losses and withdrew.

Intelligence evidence received by the CIA said the PAVN objective was the major Royalist airstrip and stronghold at Seno.

The other two moved out southwards toward Nong Boualao, with the aim of picking up the Se Sangsoy River to return northwards toward the enemy.

[6] By July's end, GM 33 had been repulsed three times by the PAVN defenses at Moung Phalane and remained stalled outside town.