Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 15 - TASK FORCE ALPHA
S-2 Intelligence Brief//19FEB2023
//SECRET//
Operation/Patrol Time:
- 1900 Local
Weather/Forecast Information:
- Current Temp: 52F | Today's High: 66F | Tonight's Low: 41F | Current Humidity: 62% | Wind out of the SE at 7-10 mph, with occasional gusts up to 15 mph.
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
- Partly cloudy skies for tonight | Visibility greater than or equal to 5NM (nautical miles) | Sunrise tomorrow is at 0737.
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
- AO Threats have been curtailed to tracked and stationary short-range SAM & AAA platforms, as well as MANPADS and stationary crew-served weapons.
- A NOTAM currently stands for all military aircraft operating within Mary Province which emphasizes extreme caution when conducting low-level observation and transient flights over grounds NOT secured or confirmed safe by UN/US coalition forces. On top of the existing air defense weapons threat posed by the NWRC, there is evidence that a configuration of an electronic warfare suite has been repurposed to emit a burst of high-intensity radiofrequency energy, which has been used to disrupt and even catastrophically impact several unmanned aircraft in our AO. This is suspected to be what forced the hard landing of a CH-47F a few days ago, so the threat is definitely real.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- In the capital of Ashgabat, US Marines have completed their security assistance mission, and have turned over primary functions and roles involving day-to-day peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance to the local UN forces. Those Marines have since been retasked to locate and disrupt militant networks throughout the Kopet Dag Range to the south of the capital who remain sympathetic to the NWRC cause.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- Fighters pledged to various hostile militant groups across eastern Mary Province continue to engage UN-partnered peacekeepers, their attacks becoming more varied in the form of hasty and complex ambushes, some involving follow-on mortar or heavy weapon support, others involving complex IED-initiated ambushes. The variety and depth of complexity indicate an evolving resistance movement among those not supportive of continued UN presence in the country.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
- Objective IGNIS, the designation for the airfield to the northeastern limit of our AO, is a Soviet-era fighter base that serves as a regional firebase for the eastern reach of the Shelf. Its construction uses the natural valley of the terrain to create a no-mans land around the perimeter and has been retrofitted and modernized by the Turkmen Armed Forces prior to the revolution. The NWRC is absolutely prepared for a fight and have spent a good amount of time preparing defenses both within and in proximity to the airfield, and preliminary reconnaissance indicates that the southern approach to the runway is marked as a minefield. In order to prevent any effort by them to rejoin forces with those still in the river valley, the airbase must be seized, and the fighters neutralized. Intelligence indicates that the nearby villages serve as both observation and security checkpoints for roads leading in and out of the base, so expect fortifications and resistance at each.
S-2 Intelligence Brief//25FEB2023
//SECRET//
Operation/Patrol Time:
- 1630 Local
Weather/Forecast Information:
- Current Temp: 53F | Today's High: 55F | Tonight's Low: 38F | Current Humidity: 56% | Wind out of the SE at 10-12 mph, with occasional gusts up to 17 mph.
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
- Partly cloudy skies for tonight | Visibility greater than or equal to 5NM (nautical miles) | Sunset for tonight is 1843. Sunrise tomorrow is at 0730.
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
- MANPADS threat confirmed - be aware of sudden employment of IR-based systems, AA guns, and crew-served weapons. Self-propelled antiair threats have been identified in the vicinity of Objective HOWARD, so be mindful of flight operations in proximity with respect to ZSU & MANPADS capabilities.
- A NOTAM currently stands for all military aircraft operating within Mary Province which emphasizes extreme caution when conducting low-level observation and transient flights over grounds NOT secured or confirmed safe by UN/US coalition forces. On top of the existing air defense weapons threat posed by the NWRC, there is evidence that a configuration of an electronic warfare suite has been repurposed to emit a burst of high-intensity radiofrequency energy, which has been used to disrupt and even catastrophically impact several unmanned aircraft in our AO.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- In the capital of Ashgabat, US Marines have completed their security assistance mission, and have turned over primary functions and roles involving day-to-day peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance to the local UN forces. Those Marines have since been retasked to locate and disrupt militant networks throughout the Kopet Dag Range to the south of the capital who remain sympathetic to the NWRC cause.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- An investigation is currently underway regarding the discovery of several civilian fatalities, purportedly due to US airstrikes during operations to assault Objective IGNIS. Regardless of the outcome, maintain focus on the reason we are here- ridding the world of one bad dude at a time by any means at our disposal.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
- 3rd PLT, we've got our work cut out for us today. We're spearheading the maneuver against several NWRC-held positions along the western valley of central Sultanbent. The desperation of the New World-aligned forces is becoming evermore apparent with each passing day, as they're just throwing everything including the kitchen sink into achieving any sort of victory against peacekeeping forces operating in western Mary Province. Additionally, several reports indicate the use of human shields, hostages, and other egregious violations of international law. Don't let these acts take our focus off of the surgically applied violence we continue to employ in order to eradicate this threat to those who still call this land their home.
- Intel from patrols over the last 24 hours paints a clear picture of evenly distributed firepower and capabilities across our intended AO this afternoon, including EW jamming sites, reinforced positions, and mechanized and armored threats. The current trend indicates that even tactical-level COPs and CPs are being supported with jamming equipment, IEDs, mindfields, and indirect fire pre-sighted to support counterassault maneuvers. It'll be a tough fight, but one we can't ignore.