Operation Clenched Fist represents one of the minor campaigns orchestrated by the Sith Lord Darth Vader against the increasing insurgence of the Rebel Alliance around 1 ABY. Following the Battle of Yavin during the Galactic Civil War, the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance fought relentlessly for dominance over various urban centers throughout the galaxy. During times when Imperial forces controlled cities such as Bestine, Coronet City, and Theed, Darth Vader would arrive in these key locations aboard his personal transport, the ST 321. Escorted by a squad of Triumphant-class dark troopers, the Sith Lord aimed to garner support for the Empire's cause and enlist soldiers for perilous assignments targeting the Rebellion. Vader assembled a skilled team from the Imperial Special Forces with the mission of tracking down and eliminating members of the Rebel Special Forces. These Imperial operatives then traversed the galaxy, successfully assassinating twenty members of the Alliance Special Forces. These successful Imperial operatives were subsequently reassigned to Operation Dark Glory.
Operation Clenched Fist was featured as a quest within the 2003 computer game Star Wars Galaxies. This MMORPG was created by Sony Online Entertainment and distributed by LucasArts, prior to the game's shutdown on December 15, 2011. The quest was integrated into the game via "Publish 19," released on June 29, 2005.
When the Empire controlled cities such as Bestine, Coronet, or Theed, Darth Vader would periodically visit these locations. Vader would present players aligned with the Imperial faction with up to eight distinct missions. Half of these were categorized as "Combatant" quests, tasking players with engaging Rebel non-player characters, while the other half were designated as "Special Forces" quests, requiring players to confront Rebel-aligned players. Operation Clenched Fist was the third of four Imperial Special Forces assignments that players could receive from Darth Vader.