Charlie Company of 2nd Battalion , 502nd Infantry Regiment ( C Co 2-502 ) would be in reserve as the quick reaction force ( QRF ) while providing a blocking position to deny enemy movement out of the area for the RAF and AAC helicopters , two American C-130 's were on station : one was a command aircraft and the other was an AC-130 . It was necessary for there to be a large amount of support for the SAS operation due to the heightened tension between the Iraqi people in the area and coalition troops due to the recent Mahmudiyah rape and killings incident
Mahmudiyah rape and killings
Mahmudiyah rape and killings
Operation Larchwood 4