Abstract
Twelve-person Special Forces team Planned interdiction operation in arid, mountainous Middle Eastern terrain Two trucks with surface-to-air missiles expected in several hours Estimated hostile strength is 10 men with automatic weapons in two armored personnel carriers Helicopter insertion/extraction Six-mile patrol to target; planned extraction close to anticipated contact site While patrol is in position, one team member is bitten on the leg by unidentified snake Over the next 5 minutes, the pain becomes increasingly severe, and the injured man becomes dizzy and confused Target convoy is expected in 1-2 hours