The action was intended to clear Emptying terrorist sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad as well as reduce Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale the flow of accelerants into that city by both combat and civil-military operations .

The targets Aiming of these attacks Attack were sanctuaries and Base Areas of the People 's Army of Vietnam ( PAVN — commonly referred to during the Vietnam War Hostile_encounter as the North Vietnamese Army [ NVA ] ) and forces of the Viet Cong ( NLF ) , which utilized Using them for resupply Supply , training Education_teaching , and resting between campaigns Military_operation across the border in the Republic of Vietnam ( South Vietnam ) .

Launched Using by Richard Nixon as a follow-up to the earlier ground invasion during the Cambodian Campaign , the initial targets of the operation were the base areas and border sanctuaries of the People 's Army of Vietnam ( PAVN ) and the Viet Cong ( VC ) .

The MNLA supported Supporting the French and Chadian forces in military operations against Islamists sanctuaries in the mountains .