Operation Diamond Arrow

This article is about the 1969–1970 battle in southern Laos. For the intelligence unit in northern Laos, see Team Sone Pet.
Operation Diamond Arrow
Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War
Date20 September 1969 – 9 March 1970
Location
Southern Laos, near the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Result Royalists withstand communist siege to hold Thatheng
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Laos  North Vietnam
Units involved
Bataillon Volontaires 46
Bataillon Infanterie 7
U.S. Air Force
Royal Lao Air Force
Raven Forward Air Controllers
Nail Forward Air Controllers		 Three infantry battalions from Group 968
Strength
Battalion-size Battalion-size
Casualties and losses
40 killed
100 wounded
30 missing		 Estimated 500

Operation Diamond Arrow was a battle in southern Laos, waged from 20 September 1969 through 9 March 1970. The struggle centered on a Royal Lao Army stronghold at the strategic road intersection of Routes 16 and 23. Due to intervention by U.S. and Lao tactical air strikes, and an air bridge supply effort, the Royal Lao Army troops survived besiegement in a fixed defensive position, only to abandon their position post-battle.