What was the purpose of operation Starlight in Vietnam?

Operation Starlight, conducted in August 1965, aimed primarily to deny the Viet Cong access to their sanctuaries along the coast of Vietnam, particularly in the Quang Ngai Province. This operation represented the first major offensive action by U.S. ground troops in Vietnam and involved a large-scale search-and-destroy mission.

The focus of this operation was to engage and disrupt the Viet Cong forces in areas believed to serve as their command and supply bases. By targeting these sanctuaries, U.S. forces sought to reduce the enemy’s ability to operate and launch attacks against allied forces, thereby contributing to the overall objective of stabilizing the region and decreasing enemy presence in significant areas.

The other options do not accurately represent the mission of Operation Starlight. The operation was not primarily an aerial attack, nor was it intended to establish a permanent base. Additionally, while prisoner rescue missions were certainly part of U.S. military objectives in Vietnam, Operation Starlight did not focus on rescuing prisoners of war.