Operation Gordian Knot ( `` Operação Nó Górdio '' ) was the largest and most expensive Portuguese military campaign in the Portuguese overseas province of Mozambique , East Africa .

Gordian Knot was a seven-month long campaign ultimately employing Employment thirty-five thousand men , and was almost successful since it destroyed Destroying most guerrilla camps located inside FRELIMO 's liberated zones and captured Conquering large numbers of rebels and armaments , forcing FRELIMO to retreat Escaping from their bases and outposts in the provinces .