Into the Valley of Death
Same unit covered by Vanity Fair in a very good six page article. Look at the accompanying photos and the aforementioned video. This is some of the most hellacious terrain I've ever seen. These valleys are STEEP, DEEP, COVERED, & NARROW.
After seeing the depth of the cedar forests I now understand that there is heavy year-round cover available in this region. Access is probable with the exception of rock slides or snow that may block trails. Observation of these trails is probably physically impossible. The terrain has been massaged for ages. Note the terraces. So too, then, the trails.
Remember, this is one platoon. This brigade has two airborne infantry battalions and a RSTA squadron. Somewhere else is another 17-25 platoons doing the exact same thing. This is TOTALLY different than Helmand/Kandahar. Different war completely.