OP Jacana

Operation Jacana
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
File:Taliban in southern Afghanistan 10-12-06.jpg Taliban forces in Southern Afghanistan.
Date April, 2002–July, 2002 Location Khost province, Paktia Province, Afghanistan Result Coalition victory.
Belligerents
United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Norway	Taliban insurgents, al-Qaeda
Strength
45 Commando: 1,700, SASR, FSK, MJK	Number unknown, probably light
Casualties and losses
None	11+ killed and 9 captured

Operation Jacana is the codename for a series of different operations carried out by NATO forces in Afghanistan. The operations were carried out most notably by 45 Commando Group Royal Marines. American forces, Australian SAS and Norwegian special forces also participated. The operation was a followup operation of Operation Anaconda and was meant to kill or capture the remaining Al-Qaida and Taliban rebels. The operation has been called a "mopping up" operation after Operation Anaconda. The operation is named after an African bird type, jacana, described in one manual as “shy, retiring, easily overlooked”.

Operation Jacana includes the following operations:

• Operation Ptarmigan
• Operation Snipe
• Operation Condor
• Operation Buzzard

All these operations were meant to "clean up" the remaining Al-Qaida and Taliban forces out of the area of operations. Operation Condor began on May 17 2002 right after an patrol of Australian SAS was ambushed. The Australian SAS called in an airstrike which killed ten rebels while another was shot by one of the Australians. The British 45 Commando then flew in to destroy the guerrilla force that had exposed itself.

Caves and bunkers containing arms, ammunition and supplies were found and destroyed. Over 100 mortars, a hundred anti-tank weapons along with hundreds of RPGs, anti-personnel mines, rockets and artillery shells as well as thousands of rounds of small-arms and anti-aircraft ammunition. Two British marines also confronted nine armed rebels and made them surrender.

45 Commandoes had been chosen for this op due to their expertise in high-altitude warfare and have trained multiple times in the Norwegian mountains. But still the altitude became a problem for the marines. They experienced altitude sickness during the operation and some of the marines needed to be airlifted out due to this. Norwegian special forces were also specifically asked by NATO to operate in these highland areas because of their experience in Norway.

Although not much fighting occurred during these operations, this meant that Operation Anaconda was successful for the coalition. All of the seized Taliban and Al-Qaida equipment was destroyed. Many consider this operation as very successful.