What was the purpose of Operation Linebacker 2?

The purpose of Operation Linebacker 2, conducted in late December 1972 during the Vietnam War, was to apply significant pressure on North Vietnam to comply with U.S. and South Vietnamese demands in the ongoing peace negotiations. This operation, which is also referred to as the "Christmas Bombing," involved an extensive aerial bombing campaign targeting key military and industrial sites in North Vietnam. The aim was to demonstrate U.S. military resolve and to influence the North Vietnamese leadership to return to the negotiating table, ultimately paving the way for a peace settlement.

This strategic bombing was seen as a way to force compliance through the threat of continued military action, thereby enhancing the U.S.'s bargaining position in the ongoing talks regarding the end of the war.