Operation Cobra's Anger

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Operation Cobra's Anger
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
U.S. Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment provide support by fire during Operation Cobra's Anger in Now Zad, Afghanistan, Dec. 5, 2009.
Date 4 December 2009 – December 12, 2009 Location Nawzad District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan Result Coalition Victory
Belligerents
United States Islamic Republic of Afghanistan  Denmark	Taliban Al-Qaeda
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Martin Wetterauer
Strength
1,000 150	Unknown
Casualties and losses
4 killed	16 killed 5 captured[1]

Operation Cobra's Anger was a US-led offensive in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan involving about 1,000 Marines and 150 Afghan troops, as well as a Danish armor attachment. The operation began in the early hours of December 4th, 2009 and ended December 12, 2009.

The goal of the operation was to disrupt Taliban supply and communications lines in the strategic Nawzad valley of Helmand province, and to reopen the strategic coalition supply lines, leading into FOB Cafferetta, a USMC/ANA outpost. The FOB was under siege by the Taliban and could only be accessed by air. ^[2]

The offensive began three days after an announcment by then-president of the United States Barack Obama detailing a plan to increase the US presence in Afghanistan by another 30,000 troops.^[3]