Operation Iron Hammer (Iraq 2005)
Encyclopedia
Operation Iron Hammer, also called Operation Matraqa Hadidia, was a military undertaking by the United States Armed Forces
, and the New Iraqi Army, which was conducted east of Hīt
, Iraq
, from November 30, to December 3, 2005, during the Iraq War, against the Iraqi insurgency
. It was reported that both the New Iraqi Army, and the United States Armed Forces, sustained no losses during the operation. No civilian casualties were reported either. The operation is believed to have benefited villages on the eastern side of the Euphrates River with an increase in security and stability.
-led coalition invaded Iraq. Within several months afterwards, an insurgency
had developed within the country, aimed against the coalition. The Hai Al Becker region, the area where Operation Iron Hammer was focused, was suspected before the operation began to be a 'safe area' for Al-Qaeda in Iraq
, a Sunni insurgency group, as well as a base of operations for the construction of vehicles and roadside bombs for the organization. Car bombs were also manufactured. The region was also believed to have been a stopping point for members of the Iraqi insurgency
as they traveled down the Euphrates River from Syria
into the interior of Iraq
. In July 2005, American and New Iraqi Army soldiers reportedly established a long-term security presence in Hīt
, located near the region. Before the operation, the region was not usually patrolled by the United States Armed Forces or the New Iraqi Army.
scheduled to occur in December 2005. 500 New Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division; 500 American soldiers from 2nd Battalion-114th Field Artillery Regiment, and 1,500 American Marines and sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in the campaign.
spoke to a group of citizens, explaining the purpose of the operation, and addressed the citizens' concerns. Air strikes, and lethal force, were not used during the military undertaking. The operation was concluded on December 3, 2005.
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, and the New Iraqi Army, which was conducted east of Hīt
Hīt
Hīt is an Iraqi city in Al-Anbar province. Hīt lies northwest of Ramadi, the provincial capital.On the Euphrates River, Hīt is a small walled town built on two mounds on the site of the ancient city of Is; bitumen wells in the vicinity have been utilized for at least 3,000 years and were used in...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, from November 30, to December 3, 2005, during the Iraq War, against the Iraqi insurgency
Iraqi insurgency
The Iraqi Resistance is composed of a diverse mix of militias, foreign fighters, all-Iraqi units or mixtures opposing the United States-led multinational force in Iraq and the post-2003 Iraqi government...
. It was reported that both the New Iraqi Army, and the United States Armed Forces, sustained no losses during the operation. No civilian casualties were reported either. The operation is believed to have benefited villages on the eastern side of the Euphrates River with an increase in security and stability.
Background
In March 2003, a United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-led coalition invaded Iraq. Within several months afterwards, an insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
had developed within the country, aimed against the coalition. The Hai Al Becker region, the area where Operation Iron Hammer was focused, was suspected before the operation began to be a 'safe area' for Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is a popular name for the Iraqi division of the international Salafi jihadi militant organization al-Qaeda. It is recognized as a part of the greater Iraqi insurgency....
, a Sunni insurgency group, as well as a base of operations for the construction of vehicles and roadside bombs for the organization. Car bombs were also manufactured. The region was also believed to have been a stopping point for members of the Iraqi insurgency
Iraqi insurgency
The Iraqi Resistance is composed of a diverse mix of militias, foreign fighters, all-Iraqi units or mixtures opposing the United States-led multinational force in Iraq and the post-2003 Iraqi government...
as they traveled down the Euphrates River from Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
into the interior of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. In July 2005, American and New Iraqi Army soldiers reportedly established a long-term security presence in Hīt
Hīt
Hīt is an Iraqi city in Al-Anbar province. Hīt lies northwest of Ramadi, the provincial capital.On the Euphrates River, Hīt is a small walled town built on two mounds on the site of the ancient city of Is; bitumen wells in the vicinity have been utilized for at least 3,000 years and were used in...
, located near the region. Before the operation, the region was not usually patrolled by the United States Armed Forces or the New Iraqi Army.
Prelude
The aim of Operation Iron Hammer was to remove Al-Qaeda in Iraq from the region, and establish a secure environment for a legislative electionIraqi legislative election, December 2005
Following the ratification of the Constitution of Iraq on 15 October 2005, a general election was held on 15 December to elect a permanent 275-member Iraqi Council of Representatives....
scheduled to occur in December 2005. 500 New Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division; 500 American soldiers from 2nd Battalion-114th Field Artillery Regiment, and 1,500 American Marines and sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in the campaign.
Operation
The operation started on November 30, 2005. During the campaign, Iraqi and American soldiers used specialized explosive charges to clear paths through routes in which roadside bombs were believed to have been heavily planted. Some secondary explosions caused by hidden mines or bombs were observed, and one anti-personnel mine was found. An Iraqi commander from 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division and a local sheikhSheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
spoke to a group of citizens, explaining the purpose of the operation, and addressed the citizens' concerns. Air strikes, and lethal force, were not used during the military undertaking. The operation was concluded on December 3, 2005.