The four five-man teams spread out like liquid mercury, sticking close to the ground, using every rock and terrain depression to move towards the three target positions at the top of the eastern cliff.

Their movement speed was slightly faster than when they were climbing, yet still cautious.

The panoramic view provided by the night vision goggles allowed them to maintain a sense of direction and awareness of their teammates' positions in the complex terrain.

Song Heping led Team A towards the objective at the northernmost end, which was also the highest position with the best view.

According to thermal imaging, there were four heat sources there.

The position was set in a natural stone pit, backed by a massive rock wall, with a view extending over the entire northern entrance of the canyon and part of the road.

They needed to approach from the rear side, where there was a blind spot in observation.

With about fifty meters left to the position, Song Heping signaled the group to stop.

He lay behind a rock, carefully observing.

The outline of the position became clear in the night vision: the edge of the pit was piled with rubble forming a simple firing parapet, a PKM machine gun mounted on top, its muzzle aimed at the canyon below.

Four figures, two seemed to be resting against the rock wall, one sitting beside the machine gun, and another walking back and forth at a distance, possibly a sentry or observer.

The low whispering of Kurdish conversation could be faintly heard, the voices suppressed.

Song Heping signaled with hand gestures: prioritize the machine gunner and the observer, then the two resting individuals.

He assigned the targets—he and team member "Cobra" would handle the machine gunner and the nearest resting one; team members "Venom" and "Viper" would handle the observer and the other resting one; team member "Centipede" was responsible for monitoring the perimeter and covering with additional shots.

Like four separated venomous snakes, they crawled from different directions towards the edge of the pit.

The gravel on the ground was the most dangerous, and Song Heping cautiously used his palm and forearm to clear the path, moving aside potentially rolling stones.

The distance shortened to twenty meters...

Ten meters...

Five meters...

The sound of soldiers breathing in the position was distinctly audible, and even a faint smell of tobacco, clearly someone was sneaking a smoke.

These Kurdish armed Special Forces members were still not cautious enough, showing issues in discipline...

The time pointed to 05:28.

Song Heping's heart beat steadily and powerfully.

He raised his right hand in a fist, signaling readiness. All team members wrapped their fingers around triggers or tightened their grips on knife handles.

05:29:50.

05:29:55.

05:30:00.

Time's up!

Song Heping's right hand suddenly swung forward!

Almost simultaneously, the four assault teams burst from different shadows, leaping towards their respective targets.

Song Heping leaped like a cheetah, covering the last ten meters in three steps, at the moment the machine gunner turned his head in shock, his left hand had already covered the man's mouth and nose, his right hand's suppressed Glock pistol pressed against his temple, a muffled 'puff' was heard.

The machine gunner's body softened.

The resting person beside him, startled awake, instinctively reached for the rifle at his side, but Cobra behind Song Heping was already there, a vicious dagger stabbed into the side of the neck artery, with the other hand tightly covering his mouth.

Blood splattered onto the rock, appearing a deeper black in the night vision.

"Venom" and "Viper" also succeeded simultaneously. "Venom" from the rear side had looped a garrote around the observer's neck, pulling back sharply, knee bracing against the back, the cord tightened, cutting off the windpipe and carotid artery.

"Viper", on the other hand, pounced on the last resting individual, repeatedly and viciously stabbing vital areas in the chest and abdomen with a serrated tactical knife, ensuring instantaneous incapacitation from resistance and shouting.

The entire killing process was completed within four seconds.

In the pit, only the sound of bodies hitting the ground and slight convulsions remained. Song Heping quickly scanned, confirming all four targets were completely eliminated.

He pressed the PTT, reporting in a low voice, "Team A, position one cleared, green."

Almost simultaneously, his earpiece received overlapping brief reports:

"Team B, position two cleared, green."

"Team C, position three cleared, green."

"Team D, western area cleared, no additional enemies found, green."

Perfect synchronization.

The four main cliff-top positions, twelve enemies were silently eliminated almost simultaneously. In five seconds, control of the canyon shifted hands.

"Sniper team, status at the canyon base?" Song Heping immediately inquired.

"Two positions at the base have no abnormal response. Heat sources have not moved, no signs of gathering. Communication is silent."

Jiang Feng's voice came through, tinged with a slight relaxation after the tension.

"Very well. Assault teams, immediately secure the positions, check enemy equipment, especially communication devices. Search for any timed report programs or alert triggers. Team D, establish a monitoring point at the canyon base. Sniper team, prioritize marking specific personnel and heavy weapon positions in the base's two positions."

The team members moved swiftly.

Song Heping quickly checked over the just-secured position.

The killed enemies wore the common desert camouflage of Abu You Brigade soldiers, equipped with all Russian or Eastern European weaponry.

Among these were AK-74M rifles, PKM machine guns, an RPG-7 launcher, and a seemingly new Harris tactical radio.

He picked up the radio, tuning to the enemy's frequency, but only static was heard.

He then checked the bodies, finding a simple map and a handwritten note on one who appeared to be a squad leader.

The note was in Kurdish, barely discernible under the faint glow of the night vision goggles: "Convoy expected at 11:00… Confirm target vehicle (black Mercedes)… Await higher command's attack directive, prioritize using 'Short-horn' missiles…"

Indeed.

The details of the plan matched.

The intelligence Duke provided was accurate.

He quickly pocketed the note.

Similar reports came from other positions: the enemies were well-equipped, with anti-tank missiles, 'Short-horn' launchers at the canyon base positions, and preset well-camouflaged firing positions, but alertness was at its lowest just before dawn.

No complex alert devices or timed report mechanisms were found, indicating the squad's commander was negligent, extremely confident in the ambush's stealth, or he didn't expect anyone to initiate a reverse clearance from an almost impossible direction.

"Each of the two positions at the base has about six people."

Jiang Feng's voice came again, he had carefully scanned using a highly magnified observational scope.

"One is behind a boulder at the riverbed turn, likely an anti-tank missile team, firing tubes visible. The other is in the bushes on the opposite slope, serving as support and lookout personnel. They take turns resting, currently at least half are asleep."

Song Heping looked at the gradually whitening horizon.

The darkest moment was passing, but there was still some time before dawn. They needed to decide how to deal with the last twelve enemies at the base.