At the beginning of July, Allied intelligence indicated that the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 1st Regiment, 2nd Division was operating near Hiệp Đức at the western end of the Quế Sơn Valley.

The ARVN 2nd Division contributed a separate combat group comprising the 2nd and 4th Battalions, 5th Infantry Regiment, supported by an artillery battery.

[1] During the initial phase of the operation the Allied force located some supply caches around Hiệp Đức, but did not make contact with the 1st Regiment.

While the Allied forces had not engaged the 1st Regiment directly, it had succeeded in keeping them away from Hiệp Đức and improved security in the Quế Sơn Valley to allow for pacification.

[1]: 611 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.