Operation Mountain Storm
Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment participating in Mountain Storm were initially briefed on the operation on or about 5 March 2004 and began conducting mission rehearsal. Operation Mountain Storm began on or about 12 March 2004, following the completion of Operation Mountain Blizzard. Mountain Storm was the next in the continuing series of operations in the south, southeast, and eastern portions of Afghanistan designed to destroy terrorist organizations and their infrastructure while continuing to focus on national stability and support.
The new campaign would involve all of the more than 13,000 coalition troops in Afghanistan. The real focus of Operation Mountain Storm was to maintain stability in Afghanistan as it prepared for national elections, then slated for summer 2004.
The coalition campaign coincided with Pakistan's hunt for foreign militants in its semi-autonomous tribal area of South Waziristan. That operation, launched Friday, involved a posse of local tribesmen, organized by local elders amid pressure from the Pakistani government. It was not clear that the Waziristan action was related to US and Afghan operations across the border. However Pakistani officials said that their efforts were not being coordinated with any activity across the border.
Operation Mountain Storm was concluded during July 2004.
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