 On 21 December GAP 2 launched another reconnaissance raid called "Operation Regate" to the Laotian town of Sop-Nao to link up with a Laotian-Moroccan-French force coming from Laos.The route was extremely difficult with mountainous terrain cut by deep ravines and numerous rivers.The link-up was achieved on 23 December and GAP 2 then returned via a different (and worse) route to Dien Bien Phu, arriving back in the valley on 26 December.