EXERCISE – TOP SECRET SCI – JSOC EYES ONLY – EXERCISE
FOR ATTENTION OF – ALL JSOC UNIT COMMANDERS AND J2 CELLS
OPERATION BLACK HEART – INTELLIGENCE UPDATE AS AT 201213031545
Background
1. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Special Activities Division (SAD) – Element Razor – have been unsuccessful in establishing a ground manned reconnaissance footprint in the lawless Taliban and Al Qaeda (AQ) stronghold; The village of Gambir, North East Afghanistan near the Afghanistan and Pakistan (AFPAK) border.
2. Element Razor’s task has been to try and confirm the location and identity of the AQ individuals of interest as informed by Mulah Kazim Numair – AKA Panther. Numair has released a number of names to the CIA during his ongoing debriefing and tactical questioning at a “Black Camp” in Uzbekistan. Numair has convinced the CIA that the location of these individuals is indeed within Gambir.
3. JSOC has sent the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) liaison officer c/s Townhouse to link up with the CIA team and head up the joint Task Force (TF) Seventy Six (76) iot* support the Extremely High Risk (EHR) detention raid(s) due to take place within Gambir with a view to Kill / Capture a number of High Value Individuals (HVI’s) based on information as provided by Numair.
4. Townhouse was the lead operative and instrumental in the capture of Numair after several covert operations across the AFPAK border and in Pakistan last year.
5. Working with a senior CIA SAD Case officer codenamed Spider, they finally tracked Numair down to the small township of Alisherzai located in the KURRAM AGENCY situated in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan. SEAL TEAM SIX (ST6) led the Helicopter Assault Force (HAF) and were successful in taking Numair alive.
6. TF 76 is made up of Special Operations Forces (SOF) operators from SEAL TEAM FOUR (4) and RANGERS from Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
Situation enemy forces
7. Although we currently do not have a ground manned reconnaissance capability within the village, we have two (2) General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drones over the target compounds located within Gambir 24 /7.
8. Several routines have been observed, but no positive identifications have been made as yet and a drone strike is not a option JSOC is prepared to sanction at this moment in time.
9. Gambir has a violent history and the village has been fought over and contested since 2003. Both the coalition and the Taliban have taken and secured it many times only to lose it again, sometimes after just weeks. Gambir is reputed to be one of the worst posts in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban and Al Qaeda currently hold the village and TF 76 will have to gain a foothold within the village before starting their mission(s).
10. We believe that there is little to no civilian population (CIVPOP) within the village and the feed from the Reapers suggests mainly fighting age males currently reside there. All males regularly appear armed and have been reported patrolling the streets during day light and at night.
11. We believe the AQ are leading, controlling and arming the Taliban within the local area and are led by Mullah Jaabir Farah.Farah is believed to control a series – up to four (4) – IED Cells that work across the region. Therefore Farah is the priority target for Kill / Capture during the operation.
12. We can confidently say that Farah and his associates will have a range of small arms, light machine guns, RPG’s, Mines, IED’s and possibly Mortars at their disposal.
13. We also believe based on information passed to us from Numair, that there is a large weapons cache hidden within the village. This cache arms the local Taliban forces with small arms and IED’s. The AQ quarter master responsible for this is Sadeed Rameen and the second priority target for Kill / Capture.
14. We also aim to identify and detain two (2) AQ couriers located within Gambir. Unfortunately we do not know their identities at present, but element Razor will endeavor to develop local sources prior to TF 76 occupying the village and securing a Mission Support Site (MSS) iot* get positive identification of the two (2) couriers.
15. It is believed that these couriers will be dispatched as soon as TF 76′s presence is confirmed within Gambir. It is therefore of utmost importance that they be detained before getting clear of the village and any surrounding compounds.
16. A red box has been placed around Gambir by JSOC and all local coalition troops have been made aware of this exclusion zone and are to avoid Gambir until further notice to avoid compromising the upcoming operation.
Situation friendly forces
17. TF 76 will be made up of four (4) squads from ST4 and a Ranger platoon.
18. ST4 will be responsible for all detention raids and will prepare for Close Quarter Combat (CQC) with emphasis on compound breaching, entry and clearing iot* kill / Capture all HVI’s and as many of their associates as possible.
19. A dedicated Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE) team will be attached throughout and will be responsible for all compound searches that are of interest.
20. Ranger platoon will provide a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) locally and take responsibility for all inner and outer cordons where required. The platoon will also take the lead on the initial break into the village iot*clear and secure the MSS.
21. The closest Forward Operating Base (FOB) is FOB Cleveland, 30mins flight time from Gambir and will provide a rapidly deployable further Ranger platoon as provided by Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
22. There will also be a large coalition ground force dominating the area surrounding the red box and the exclusion zone. This is to ensure the HVI’s are confined to Gambir with little to no escape route(s) ensuring the detention raids can take place rapidly and successfully.
Summary and Intent
23. Should Operation BLACK HEART go ahead as scheduled for March 30 2012, all operators from TF 76 are to prepare for CQC within an urban environment. TF76 will be self sufficient for the first 36hrs before any resupply can be brought online. Ideally the operation will last no longer than 36hrs. TF 76 are to ensure they have all equipment necessary to sustain multiple detention mission(s) working from a MSS within the village of Gambir.
24. The MSS needs to be established as a priority. This may include a night time break into the village iot* clear and secure a suitable compound.
25. The AQ and Taliban who control the village and surrounding area are notorious for their fanaticism, determination and merciless approach to fighting. They are the most successful cell in the region and are responsible for hundreds of coalition deaths and injuries.
26. Killing or capturing their leaders will be a huge blow to their network and combat operations. It will also enable ISAF to retake the village and establish a strong Patrol Base (PB) with a view to returning Gambir back to the local population in time.
27. Target Development Packs will be sent out via secure means shortly to all TF 76 Operators.
28. Commanders at all levels are to absorb the above information and begin pre-training and preparation for likely tasks. If further clarification is required units are to contact JSOC J2/J3 Cells as soon as possible for guidance.
iot* in order tontm* notice to move
EXERCISE – TOP SECRET SCI – JSOC EYES ONLY – EXERCISE
FOR ATTENTION OF – ALL JSOC UNIT COMMANDERS AND J2 CELLS
OPERATION BLACK HEART – INTELLIGENCE UPDATE AS AT 201213031545
MESSAGE ENDS
