HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

coalition forces continued to search for underground
enemy networks. The focus of U.S. intelligence
shifted toward the southeast, specifically
the Gardez-Khowst-Orgun-e triangle.
Indications pointed to a major concentration of
enemy forces in the Shah-i-Khot Valley in
Paktia Province. The operation to destroy the
enemy there was code-named Operation ANA-
CONDA.
U.S. SOF had been monitoring for well over
a month a large-scale pocket of forces in the
Shah-i-Khot Valley, southeast of Gardez. TF
DAGGER began planning for an operation
against AQ and Taliban forces in late January
after ODA 594 was told of their existence during
a reconnaissance mission. DAGGER initially
considered the option of attacking into the valley
using ODAs to lead Afghan militia forces.
Intelligence, however, painted a daunting picture,
indicating potentially 1,000 al Qaeda.
Judging his troop to task ratio as insufficient,
COL Mulholland turned to conventional
forces for assistance. The planning effort, and
command and control of the forces involved in
the operation, was assumed by CJTF MOUN-
TAIN under the command of the 10th Mountain
Division Commander, MG Franklin L. “Buster”
Hagenbeck, on 15 February. The plan grew to
include additional troops from the 10th
Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division.
By mid-February, a total of six ODAs, three SOF
C2 elements, three other SOF elements, and a
U.S. infantry brigade of three battalions were
involved, along with nearly 1,000 Afghan
Military Forces (AMF) trained by the Special
Forces.
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