Operation Sayeed
Operation Sayeed | |
---|---|
Part of | |
Result | U.S. victory |
- Multi-National Forces West
- New Iraqi Army
- Iraqi Police
(ISOF commander)
(AQI leader in Qaim); Saeed Huwair (former army officer); Abdul-Samad Ghurairi (Baath leader); Muhannad Ulayyan (Islamic Army in Iraq commander); Farhan Khalifawi (Islamic Army in Iraq commander); Hatim Muslim (Ansar al-Sunnah commander); Mulla Hamidi Jughaifi (AQI leader in Haditha); Fulaih Mazid (Ansar al-Sunnah commander)
![United States](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png)
![Iraq](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png)
64 wounded
2,308 detained[1]
Operation Sayeed (Arabic: عملية الصياد) also known as Operation Hunter in English, was a series of operations conducted in western Al Anbar Governorate by the United States Marine Corps in 2005. It was an umbrella operation, consisting of at least 11 named operations between July 2005 to December 2005. The purpose was to drive Al-Qaeda in Iraq forces from the Western Euphrates River Valley. Some parts of Operation Sayeed were Operation Steel Curtain and Operation Iron Fist.[2]
There were three goals of Operation Sayeed, in addition to removing AQI from the Western Euphrates River Valley; they were to ensure there was a secure "climate" and "environment" to conduct a referendum in October and national elections in December 2005; and the third was to secure the control of the Iraqi border to the Iraqi people.[3] Al-Anbar Governorate was divided into areas of operations: II Marine Expeditionary Force (codenamed Operation Atlanta) included Area of Operations Denver (western region), Area of Operations Topeka (Ramadi and surrounding area), Area of Operations Raleigh (Fallujah and surrounding area) and Area of Operations Oshkosh (al-Taqaddum).[4]
Events
Area of Operations Denver
Battle of Haditha and Operation Quick Strike
Between 1–4 August, the Battle of Haditha took place: On 1 August, A 6-man U.S. Marine sniper team were ambushed in Haditha by Ansar al-Sunna terrorists 5 of the team were killed and 1 was missing;[5] In response a U.S. Marine task force from 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines cordoned off and searched Haditha,[6] where they engaged in combat with Ansar al-Sunna and AQI terrorists.
Regimental Combat Team 2, with the assistance of 2nd Squadron
Operation Cyclone
On 11 September, 2nd LAR and Iraqi forces established a cordon around Ar-Rutbah to begin Operation Cyclone. Marine Force Recon and Iraqi special forces swept through the town from the north whilst K company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, supported by AAV's and a platoon from 2nd LAR, swept in from the south, targeting pre-selected houses. The operation was the last conducting by 2nd LAR in Iraq before rotating back to the United States in September.[7]
Operations Mustang, Lightning Strike and Green Light
4th squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, cleared the village of al-Ash on 16 September (known as Operation Mustang); they repeated this in Operation Lightning Strike on 28–29 September, clearing Anah and Qadisiyah (the operation deferred by RCT-2 in August because of the substitution of Operation Quick Strike to clear Barwanah and to stop counterattacks against 3d Battalion, 25th Marines). 3rd Battalion 504th Infantry Regiment cleared a military housing compound in Baghdadi in Operation Green Light.[5][8]
Operation Iron Fist
Between 1–7 October, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines carried out its first major operation since relieving 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines in Al-Qaim-Operation Iron Fist, in the village of Sadah and the eastern half of Karabillah; its aim was to eliminate insurgents, clear routes and establish battle positions. The Marines were supported by a platoon each of tanks, combat engineers and amphibious assault vehicles; the operation also provided a deception to distract insurgents while units prepared for Operation River Gate. On 1 October, the task force cleared Sadah from east to west with three rifle companies, fighting sporadically with insurgents who fought from prepared positions with small arms, rocket launchers, mortars and explosive devices. The task force killed an estimated 12 insurgents and encamped on a wadi between Sadah and Karabillah, a troop of the 4th squadron 14th Cavalry Regiment screened the left bank of the Euphrates river whilst mobile assault platoons of the Marine battalion's weapons company blocked the roads between the two towns.[5]
2 October saw stiffer opposition from the insurgents fighting in Karabillah, the Marines advanced through the town over the following 3 days, using all their direct fire weapons and mortars, Marine aircraft delivered rockets, hellfire missiles, GBU-12s and other bombs. The insurgent death toll increased to 51, whilst the task force lost 1 Marine killed and 9 wounded; the operation ended on 7 October, with two battle positions established for two rifle platoons, patrolling and small arms engagements continued for several weeks, but a foothold for further operations in the west had been established-which would be Operation Steel Curtain.[5]
Operation River Gate
Between 3–19 October (some sources say 20
Operation Steel Curtain
Operation Iron Hammer
Between 30 November – 4 December, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines carried out Operation Iron Hammer-a clearing action across the Euphrates from Hit, while 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery Regiment and the Iraqi 1st battalion, 2nd Brigade, 7th Division secured Hit itself. The Marine battalion, a company of Iraqi troops and 30 Desert protector scouts[5] (also known as Army scouts)[12] crossed to clear Hai al-Becker district and to establish a base for the Iraqi battalion to occupy, thereby securing the eastern side of the city. With this improved security, the Hit bridge was reopened to foot traffic, the operation also detained 19 suspected insurgents and removed 9 IEDs.[5]
Operation Liberty Express
Operation Liberty Express was conducted from 1 September through to 30 December by US and Iraqi forces to protect the polling stations on 15 October's referendum and on 15 December national election. The operation focused on expanding Coalition forces and the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior control throughout Al-Anbar Governorate, while providing support to the Independent Electoral Commission in Iraq for the constitutional referendum and elections.[7][9]
Operation Liberty Express was an extension of Operation Guardian Sword (6 June – 15 August)-the operations objectives called for neutralizing the insurgencies in Ramadi while covering the rotation of combat units and personnel in other units to support the upcoming referendum and election, the operation included a number of subsidiary operations, Operation Guardian Sword ended with the relief of a US Army Brigade assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. Operation Lightning Express composed of four subsidiary phase operations:[5] one of which was Operation Guardian Shield which was aimed at covering force rotations over a two-month period.[7]
The units of the 2nd Marine Division conducted over 30 operations to create the secure environment of the referendum and elections to take place, with counter insurgency operations being conducted in nearly every city across Al-Anbar Governorate, capitalizing on progress made in other operations. In addition to killing almost 1,000 insurgents and detaining almost 4,000 more, over 500 weapons caches were discovered (the significant weapons cache included more than 10,000 artillery, mortar and rocket rounds, 70 250-pound bombs and 5 surface-to-air missile systems. The operation successfully culminated on 15 December with the elections and ended on 22 December-thus ending Operation Sayeed.[8][9]
Operation Sayeed (Hunter) II
Phase II of Operation Sayeed began in September, it was known as Multi-National Force – Iraq called Operation Sayeed (Hunter) II would establish indigenous forces in Al Anbar Governorate, secure the region along the Syrian border and interdict insurgent activity all along the Euphrates River Valley. Many local operations would exploit sweeps by establishing permanent presences in an increasing number of towns and civil affairs programmes would concentrate on encouraging anti-insurgent sentiment among Sunni leaders and the populace. Forces were still inadequate to either control the Syrian border or control the large area along the river valley, part of the effort to restrict insurgent traffic was to destroy selected bridges across the Euphrates with airstrike and Army M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, and to establish random checkpoints along major roads on the south bank. In September, a full Iraqi Army brigade joined the operation and made a significant contribution to the operation in the Western Euphrates River Valley at that time.[8][3][7] The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, executed special planning and coordination for operation, whilst in support of the operation the II Marine Expeditionary Force delivered critically needed humanitarian assistance which was used to support Internally Displaced Persons camps and other humanitarian needs.[9] In October, the operation showed its first results when 1st Brigade, of the Iraqi 1st Division established a headquarters in Al-Qaim, signalling the beginning of the border force to in Al-Anbar,[5] also October, the operation showed further results with the deployment of reliable Iraqi units (three battalions 3rd Brigade, 7th Division were arriving in strength to secure the border towns beginning with Hit, Hadithah and Rawah.[5][7] Operation Iron Fist and Operation River Gate covered their deployment into the Governorate.[5]
Area of Operations Raleigh
Operation Constitution Hammer
In October, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, and 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade of the Iraqi Army to carryout Operation Constitution Hammer: Its aim was to disrupt insurgent activity along the main supply routes in Fallujah, as well as find weapons caches and kill or capture insurgents. F Company established a cordon security whilst its 2nd Platoon along with the Iraqi troops searched the buildings that were encircled. The Marines searched every building within their area of responsibility, after the buildings were inspected and cleared, control was turned over to the Iraqi army, the mission was a success, Iraqi troops unearthed a large cache of weapons and denied the insurgents the ability to operate in the area.[13]
Operation Trifecta
Between 10 and 20 November 144 U.S. Marines of E, F and Weapons Companies of
Operations in AO Raleigh continued actions in and around Fallujah and searched for weapon caches, such as Operation Southern Fire (24–29 August).[8]
Area of Operations Topeka
Operation Guardian Sword
Operation Guardian Sword (6 June – 15 August)- was an operation whose objectives called for neutralizing the insurgencies in Ramadi while covering the rotation of combat units and personnel in other units to support the upcoming referendum and election, the operation included a number of subsidiary operations, Operation Guardian Sword ended with the relief of the two US Army Brigade assigned to the 2nd Marine Division.[5][8]
Operation Mountaineers, Tigers, Shank
CNN reported that on 4 October 500 U.S. troops and 400 Iraqi security forces began Operation Mountaineers: The force carried out "cordon and search operation" in Ramadi's southern district of Tammin, the operation was aimed to "disrupt insurgents in southern Ramadi who are transporting weapons and munitions into the city."[16] After 4 Marine CH-47E helicopters instrted A Troop, 1st Squadron, 167th Cavalry Regiment into blocking positions southeast of the city, C Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor Regiment established a cordon to isolate the southeast corner of the city. From the North, two Army infantry companies, accompanied by 1st and 3rd battalion, 1st brigade, Iraqi 7th Division cleared and secured their target districts on the southern side of the canal, while 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines cleared the north side of the canal, accompanied by 2nd battalion, 1st brigade, Iraqi 7th Division and supported by a tank platoon from D Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment. US Marines and soldiers and Iraqi troops searched all houses and vehicles in a major demonstration of combined US-Iraqi forces. After being attacked by small arms, explosives dives and rocket fire 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines called in fixed and rotary wing air support, which remained overhead until all objectives were cleared and the Marines returned to base.[8][17]
The 2nd Brigade, 28th Infantry Division carried out Operation Tigers (25–26 November)-a clearing operation in the Mulaab district of eastern Ramadi, with both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft in support. 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and 2nd battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Division carried out Operation Shank (2–3 December)- a cordon and search mission in the same area and the adjacent al-Dubaht district to find weapons cashes and to disrupt insurgent activities.[5]
Aftermath
Operation Liberty Express ended on 22 December-thus Operation Sayeed.[8] Operation Sayeed resulted in a number of accomplishments and successes, many AQI terrorists and insurgents were killed which weekend the insurgency and their activities were disrupted; places where the insurgents felt secure were eliminated; AQI's leadership was disrupted and were not able to operate freely in that part of the country. It was the first time US forces had carried operated on a large scale with Iraqi forces.[3] The operation's significant disruption to AQI's organisation had a lasting effect across Al-Anbar Governorate, in addition to destroying much of the AQI leadership and command-and-control functions, this operation significantly improved opinions among the local population of western Al-Anbar, as the operation stopped AQI's murder and intimidation campaign that was successful in preventing locals from assisting Coalition forces; a permanent Iraqi Security force presence was established across most of the western Euphrates River valley, consequently eliminating AQI influence and restoring a sense of security among the local populace, who were then more willing cooperate and assist Coalition and Iraqi Army forces.[9] The success of the operation also ensured the safety and maximum participation of Iraqi citizens in the constitutional referendum and national elections, the security of the polling stations on 15 October and 15 December was carried out by Iraqi Security Forces-demonstrating significant progress in the Security force.[9]
Throughout the Operation, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing flew approximately 11,172 sorties and 22,012 flight hours in support of the operation.[9]
References
- ^ a b c U.S. Marine Corps Operations in Iraq, 2003–2006, p. 105
- ^ Al-Anbar Awakening: U.S. Marines and Counterinsurgency in Iraq, 2004–2009. Volume 1: American Perspectives, p. 105
- ^ ISBN 978-1511645980
- ISBN 978-1470095079
- ^ ISBN 978-1470095079
- ISBN 978-1434935212
- ^ ISBN 978-1612002675
- ^ a b c d e f g https://fas.org/irp/doddir/usmc/iraq03-06.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i History Division (2010). U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004-2008 Anthology and Annotated Bibliography (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ ISBN 978-1612511405
- ISBN 978-1470095246
- ISBN 978-0313380624
- ^ "2/6, Iraqi Army team up for Operation Constitution Hammer". Marines.mil. 20 October 2005.
- ^ "Operation Trifecta takes weapons, insurgents off streets". Marines.mil. 18 January 2006.
- ISBN 9781300360391
- ^ "Five U.S. troops killed in Iraq attacks". CNN. 4 October 2005.
- ^ "Iraqi Army in Ramadi – Operation Mountaineers". Long War Journal. 4 October 2005.
External links
- Estes, Kenneth (2009). "U.S. Marine Corps Operations in Iraq, 2003-2006". History Division, United States Marine Corps: 94–107.
- Al-Anbar Awakening: U.S. Marines and Counterinsurgency in Iraq, 2004-2009. Volume 1: American Perspectives, Pages 101-106
- Fourteen Marines Killed by Roadside Bomb in Iraq
- US claims 61 Zarqawi-linked rebels captured in Iraq
- At least 33 killed in Iraq rebel attacks