Assault?
Risky.
Although they have the high ground, the terrain at the bottom is complex, with rocks and shrubs providing plenty of cover.
Once a firefight erupts, even with silenced weapons, the sound may echo in the relatively closed canyon bottom, possibly being picked up by enemy listening posts at a distance.
Moreover, ensuring total annihilation in an instant is difficult; if anyone escapes or sends a radio alert, the plan fails.
"We need to silently eliminate them."
Song Heping made the decision.
The drop from the cliff to the canyon floor is about fifty ters, with steep slopes and climbable rock walls.
"Group A and Group B stay on the cliff, establish a fire control point. Group C and Group D, co with down the north slope to the valley floor. We will approach those two positions from the upstream direction of the riverbed."
"I'll lead the team down."
Abu You suddenly spoke.
"I want to personally send these bastards to hell. Also, I'm more familiar with this terrain."
Song Heping pondered briefly and nodded in agreent.
"Alright. You take Group C and Group D down to the canyon floor. I'll stay atop the cliff to coordinate. Jiang Feng, your people provide full surveillance and fire support. If any unexpected happens, prioritize taking out the missile operators and radio operators."
"Understood."
Abu You imdiately led ten team mbers, sliding down from a north-facing erosion gully washed out by rain at the cliff top.
They used ropes for assistance but moved swiftly.
Song Heping monitored their progress from the cliff top using thermal imaging and binoculars, while also watching for movents from the enemies at the bottom.
Ti ticked by, second by second.
Abu You's team slipped into the valley floor like a stream, vanishing among the rocks and shadows.
In the night vision goggles, only a few fast-moving blurry green figures could be seen, skillfully using every piece of terrain for cover.
In the canyon bottom, behind a huge rock at the bend in the riverbed.
Two of Barzani's special soldiers were dozing off leaning against the cold rock, next to them was a 'Kornet' anti-tank missile launcher tube.
Another was on sentry duty not far away, but due to the false sense of 'all-clear' from his companion atop the cliff, the sentry's vigilance was low, more engaged in battling the dawn's chill and drowsiness.
They were unaware that the Grim Reaper had descended along the slope, creeping to within just thirty ters away.
Abu You personally led a four-man team to deal with this missile position.
He moved using both hands and feet, like a Cheetah on a pebble riverbed, making almost no noise.
He chose an AK74 with an added silencer as his close combat weapon, which makes very little noise when firing subsonic heavy bullets.
At twenty ters, he stopped and raised his fist.
The team dispersed, each locking onto a target.
Abu You's crosshair in his scope steadily fixed on the back of the sentry's head.
He adjusted his breath and pulled the trigger.
"Poof!"
A sound as faint as opening a champagne bottle.
The sentry's head tilted slightly before tumbling to the ground.
Almost simultaneously, the other three team mbers sprang up, charging at the two dozing people.
The blade flashed cold, slicing throats and stabbing hearts.
The two enemies either in sleep or just awakened were killed instantly.
The whole process was breathtakingly fast.
In another bush-covered position, the team mbers launched a simultaneous attack.
These rcenaries handpicked by Song Heping cooperated perfectly, using knives, strangling cords, and close-range silenced shooting to eliminate all six targets before the enemy could react.
One enemy made a half-scream before being throat-slit, but the sound was absorbed by the wind and rocks in the canyon, sparking no distant reaction.
"Canyon bottom clear."
Abu You's slightly panting voice echoed in the earpiece, carrying a cold satisfaction and relief of revenge.
On the slope, Song Heping slowly exhaled a breath he had been holding.
At that mont, the ti was 05:52.
In the entire Vulture Canyon, the twenty-four elite soldiers deployed by Barzani were silently eliminated in twenty-two minutes.
No radio alert was sent.
They lay quietly, as if they had never existed, beside the graves they chose for themselves.
"Check all corpses, ensure death with another shot. Collect all communication equipnt, docunts, and identifiers. Concentrate heavy weapons to the top of the cliff position. Clean up traces of blood and obvious signs of struggle. Be quick, dawn is approaching."
Song Heping rapidly issued a series of orders.
The team moved quickly.
The bodies were dragged into rock crevices or depressions, simply covered with camouflage nets and rubble. Important equipnt was seized, and irrelevant items were centrally processed.
The canyon returned to superficial tranquility, only the gradually intensifying wind and the brightening eastern sky indicating a new day was about to comnce.
Song Heping stood atop the cliff, overlooking the deathly controlled canyon at his feet.
The most dangerous and precision-demanding part of the first phase was completed.
Now, they transford from Hunters to Ambushers.
The ambush target was Salahuddin Barzani, who thought he had everything under control, and his uncle, unaware that he had already set one foot in Hell.
He pressed the radio: "Trash cleaned up. The nest awaits the birds. Estimated arrival ti?"
Seconds later, Major General Duke's voice ca in, carrying a barely noticeable sense of relief:
"According to the latest monitoring, the target convoy left the residence prematurely at Elbil ti 05:40. Speed is fast. Estimated arrival at your location might be between nine and ten in the morning, significantly ahead of schedule. Repeat, target departed early."
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