Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 3 - S-2 Briefing

[1LT Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 03-22 - TASK FORCE ALPHA

S-2 Intelligence Brief//21AUG2022
//SECRET//

Spoiler

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0600 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current temp: 75F Today's High: 88F with mostly clear skies, humidity dropping from 33% to 22% by 1400 local. Wind out of the NNW at 5-10mph, constant with limited gusting up to 25mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Greater than or equal to 10 miles. Sunrise at 0613 & sunset at 1948.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- Self-propelled air defense systems remain present throughout the Severkuldzha plateau. Updated positions have been confirmed in the area near Severkuldzha, as well as locations near Sultanbent, though several other surface-to-air missile batteries have been confirmed across the wider AO.

- NWRC forces have demonstrated limited strike and air combat capabilities via both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Coalition air operations are advised extreme caution against possible air-to-air engagements initiated by hostile aircraft that may still be launching from central Mary.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- The NWRC has shifted its focus as of late, moving more personnel and resources in order to protect facilities they view as critical to economic and warfighting functions such as electrical and gas/oil utilities. This change in tactics is purported to be in defense of these utilities, rather than their actual reason, which is to offset impacts made by US forces against key logistics vehicles that the NWRC is currently suffering a shortage from. While this may give NWRC and some of the militia forces time to consolidate and regroup, it will also give US and UN forces the increased breathing room to continue focused aid and relief operations throughout the most impacted areas.

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- Review of intelligence collected over the last two weeks has indicated that most of the militants across the southern AO of Mary Province fall into two of the major identified militant groups, the 7/7 Martyrs and the Aswad-Murghab Brotherhood. Primarily, the 7/7 Martyrs are the faction most identified with activities in our AO on the western side of the Severkuldzha plateau. Differences in methodology and motivators are being evaluated and will be detailed in subsequent S-2 products. 

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- With the successful routing of NWRC and militia forces garrisoned at COP WILSON, forces in the southern valleys of the AO are attempting to consolidate near an oil and gas production facility to the southwest of COP WILSON. S-2's prerogative is that these forces are currently divided across the valley they occupy, with some forward positioned to initiate a potential attack upon the maneuvering of troops from COP WILSON. If this strike is successful, it will pull these forces in close proximity to the COP away from its southern flank, taking the pressure off and allowing supplies to enable the standing up and increased function of supporting operations from COP WILSON.

 

[1LT Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 03-22 - TASK FORCE CHARLIE

S-2 Intelligence Brief//27AUG2022
//SECRET//

Spoiler

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0600 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current temp: 69F Today's High: 86F with mostly clear skies, humidity dropping from 35% to 25% by 1200 local. Wind out of the SOUTH at 4-7mph, with occasional gusting up to 15mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Greater than or equal to 10 miles. Sunrise at 0618 & sunset at 1929.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- Self-propelled air defense systems remain present throughout the Severkuldzha plateau. Updated positions have been confirmed in the area near Severkuldzha, as well as locations near Sultanbent, though several other surface-to-air missile batteries have been confirmed across the wider AO.

- NWRC forces have demonstrated limited strike and air combat capabilities via both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Coalition air operations are advised extreme caution against possible air-to-air engagements initiated by hostile aircraft that may still be launching from central Mary.

- With the elimination of NWRC-operated, self-propelled anti-aircraft (SPAA) systems inside of COP WILSON, there are no significant known surface-to-air missile (SAM) or radar threats to coalition aircraft operating in the SW Kirov area. That said, the NWRC is likely aware of this degradation in anti-air capability, and may elect to employ other means to disrupt air operations.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- Aerial & localized signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection throughout the Mary Province has detected the recurring presence of localized, high-energy, broad-spectrum signal concentrations across several major radio frequency (RF) bands. Combined with several reports of temporary outages, as well as increased communications impedance and interference on bands utilized by coalition forces, it is highly likely that portable “suitcase jamming suites” are in use by NWRC forces. There is currently very limited information available regarding the capabilities of these devices. One device was identified by elements of 1st PLT earlier this week, however, exploitation and analysis of this platform are ongoing. Any information collected which may detail these units' capability, function, operation, and origin is invaluable to countermeasure development steps, so be on the lookout, photograph & report occurrences that may relate to possible electronic warfare capabilities.

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- Review of intelligence collected over the last three weeks has indicated that most of the militants across the southern AO of Mary Province fall into two of the major identified militant groups, the 7/7 Martyrs and the Aswad-Murghab Brotherhood. Primarily, the 7/7 Martyrs are the faction most identified with activities in our AO on the western side of the Severkuldzha plateau. Differences in methodology and motivators are being evaluated and will be detailed in subsequent S-2 products. 

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- The clearing of the easternmost valley of the southern Kirov area is part of a continued focus to drive a wedge between hard supply and logistics routes suspected to be used by both NWRC and militant forces across the Galkan Gory mountain range, which helms the northern end of the Southern Inhabited Shelf. In coordination with elements from 2nd PLT, Alpha Company will continue to clear the valley northwest and southwest of COP WILSON, respectively, before maneuvering south to secure critical road networks which NWRC regulars and militants alike use to move supplies and weapon systems in and around the AO.

 

[1LT Mallory]

Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 03-22 - TASK FORCE BRAVO

S-2 Intelligence Brief//28AUG2022
//SECRET//

Spoiler

Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0830 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current temp: 84F Today's High: 93F with mostly clear skies, humidity dropping from 40% to 15% by 1300 local. Wind out of the SE at 4-7mph, with occasional gusting up to 15mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Greater than or equal to 10 miles. Sunrise at 0618 & sunset at 1928.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- Self-propelled air defense systems remain present throughout the Severkuldzha plateau. Updated positions have been confirmed in the area near Severkuldzha, as well as locations in and throughout Sultanbent, along with multiple other surface-to-air missile batteries across the wider AO.

- With the elimination of NWRC-operated, self-propelled anti-aircraft (SPAA) systems inside of COP WILSON, NWRC is likely aware of this degradation in anti-air capability and may attempt to employ other means to disrupt air operations.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- Aerial & localized signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection throughout the Mary Province has detected the recurring presence of tactical electronic warfare (EW) suites, described to be stored/deployed from a rectangular hard case approximately 36 inches in length & 18-24 inches tall. One device was identified by elements of 1st PLT earlier this week, however, exploitation and analysis of this platform are ongoing. Any information collected which may detail these units' capability, function, operation, and origin is invaluable to countermeasure development steps, so be on the lookout, photograph & report occurrences that may relate to possible electronic warfare capabilities. That said, S-2 must emphasize that if personnel encounter such systems and do not possess the technical means to disable or turn off such EW platforms that the preservation of communications and navigation capability for ground forces be made a priority, and the unit be destroyed by whatever means necessary, and a report detailing these effects- specifically any technical capabilities such as range and frequencies affected, be sent up as part of an FIR.

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- Review of intelligence collected over the last three weeks has indicated that most of the militants across the southern AO of Mary Province fall into two of the major identified militant groups, the 7/7 Martyrs and the Aswad-Murghab Brotherhood. Primarily, the 7/7 Martyrs are the faction most identified with activities in our immediate AO here in and around Kirov, while the Aswad-Murghab (AM) Brotherhood sticks to their native lands along the Murghab River in and around Sultanbent. Differences in methodology and motivators between each group are being evaluated and will be detailed in subsequent S-2 products. 

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- 3rd PLT is currently in contact with NWRC and militant forces to the southeast of the COP, though has been successful in striking a manned checkpoint along the southern road, as well as clearing several hamlets and pockets of resistance to their immediate south. 2nd PLT will therefore initiate contact, clear, and rout any and all NWRC and militant fighters through the northern area of the valley.