MISSION OBJECTIVES

​

- Defend Combat Outpost London (PRIMARY OBJECTIVE)
- Support Observation Post Dublin
- Push Insurgent Forces Back from Al Qusayr
- Push Insurgent Forces Back from Hama
- Push Insurgent Forces Back from Abu Al-Duhur
- Push Insurgent Forces Back from Jirah
- Destroy Insurgent Supply Depot
- Destroy Insurgent Silkworm Battery
- Destroy Insurgent Headquarters

​

​

​

MISSION OVERVIEW

​

Task Force air support elements stationed at Rayak are to provide air support to all friendly ground forces in the TO. The protection of Combat Outpost London is top priority.

​

Two Quick Reaction Force vehicle platoons have been deployed to Rayak by transport aircraft and are heading towards COP London to reinforce and relieve friendly forces currently fighting at the outpost. They are likely to encounter fierce enemy opposition on their way to the outpost, since insurgents have set up roadblocks and heavily defended checkpoints in local roads.

The main threats to COP London are insurgent mortar teams, moving fast with the use of pickup trucks. Operating independently, these mortar teams have proven difficult to track and have caused most of the casualties at COP London. Their effectiveness has so far been hampered by their lack of communication and fire correction - However, intelligence reports have emerged which indicate the insurgents are commandeering helicopters and even civilian general aviation/sports aircraft at the airports and airbases they have captured. 

​

Though the effectiveness of their operation is questionable and the direct threat these aircraft pose to coalition forces should be minimal, it is believed the insurgents plan on using these aircraft as artillery spotters for their mortar teams. If they succeed in this employment, mortar fire on COP London will be utterly devastating. As such, upon positively identifying ANY aircraft in the TO as having hostile intentions, Task Force aircraft are to shoot them down before they are able to get within visual range of COP London.

​

OP Dublin should be able to fend off hostile infantry attacks on their position, however Task Force aircraft should seek to assist them if resources are available. OP Dublin is critical to this operation as its location in very high terrain provides excellent visibility over COP London, allowing JTACs on Dublin to lase and direct friendly aircraft to mortar teams and vehicle convoys approaching COP London.

​

It is suspected the insurgents have set up camp in the mountains to the northwest of OP Dublin, and are using it as an ammunition storage and rallying point. The location and destruction of this camp is likely to reduce the intensity of enemy attacks on Dublin.

​

While making sure to defend COP London, Coalition air power is to destroy three key insurgent targets in Syria: 

​

- Supply Depot. This well-defended supply base has allowed insurgent forces to benefit from Army-level logistics and has enabled them to operate across a vast area. Destroying this supply depot is expected to severely reduce their ability to operate in areas far-flung from their main control centers, particularly more supply-intensive units such as artillery. 

​

- Silkworm Battery. Insurgents have captured a container ship with weapon supplies bound for Syria and, seeking to avoid confrontation with Syrian and Coalition navies, set up harbor in a small island off the Syrian coast. SIGINT and sattelite images have confirmed the existence of a Silkworm anti-ship missile battery on this island, which has prompted the American naval assets to stay further away from the coast. Eliminating this threat will allow the US Carrier Battlegroup to relocate closer to the coastline.

​

- Insurgent Headquarters. Insurgent forces have captured the strategically relevent Tabqa Dam and set up headquarters in its neighbourings. This area is very heavily defended and SIGINT reports suggest the insurgents have been able to activate SA-2 and SA-3 surface-to-air missile systems in the neighbouring Tabqa airbase. They are also rumoured to be operating L-39 Albatros light attack aircraft off Tabqa but these reports have not been confirmed. Destroying the HQ is likely to degrade the insurgents' capability to deploy coordinated strike convoys and organize large-scale operations.

​

Additionally, in the interest of ensuring the safety of Coalition forces in Lebanon and at the request of the Syrian government, Task Force aircraft are to push insurgent forces off key cities throughout Syria. These are: Al Qusayr, Hama, Abu Al-Duhur, and Jirah. Hama in particular has been heavily damaged in recent battles and insurgent forces have been able to establish a strong hold over the city. Expect enemy resistance and heavy anti-aircraft artillery. Insurgents have captured many Syrian military installations, in particular air defense brigades and the National Air Defense Academy east of Al Qusayr. Though they are not believed to be capable of operating large numbers of the SAM systems they've captured, they are confirmed to be using large numbers of Soviet-era 23mm, 57mm and 100mm anti-aircraft guns, as well as modern MANPADS and Soviet-era IR-guided SHORADS.

​

Upon liberating these cities, US AFSOC units are to establish forward operating bases on their local airports, allowing light attack aircraft and helicopters to reach further into insurgent-controlled territory.

​

The city of Palmyra is currently a fierce battleground between insurgents, Syrian government forces, and other factions also fighting the insurgents. Insurgents have taken control of the ancient Palmyra Castle, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and are using it as a fortified observation post. Coalition forces are advised to avoid confrontation in this area if possible, and exercise extreme caution if insurgents in this area need to be engaged.

​