Operation Marne Torch
Encyclopedia
Operation Marne Torch refers to two operations launched by Coalition forces in 2007 against al-Qaeda in Iraq
in the Arab Jabour area of Babil province. This campaign is named after Operation Torch, the joint US/British invasion of French North Africa in 1942, presumably because of the two operations' similar thrust in to the enemies southern underbelly.
The first operation, Marne Torch I began on June 16, 2007, when Multi-National Division-Central launched offensive operations against Sunni and Shi'ia extremists, as well as insurgents with Iranian influence in the city and surrounding regions of Arab Jabour in Babil province. The action was intended to clear terrorist sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad
as well as reduce the flow of accelerant
s into that city by both combat and civil-military operations. 2000 coalition and 1000 Iraqi army soldiers disrupted insurgent operations by capturing, seizing, and clearing caches that support instability in the area.
Marne Torch II was launched on September 15, 2007 in the Hawr Rajab area. Supported by a newly created Sons Of Iraq
group from Arab Jabour, Coalition forces continued their push along the west bank of the Tigris river, killing or capturing 250 insurgents, destroying 12 boats being used by the insurgents to funnel weapons into Baghdad, and uncovering 40 weapons caches, often with tips from the Sons of Iraq.
of the 3rd infantry division was the 20th and last of the "Surge" brigades to arrive in Iraq. Their mission was to clear and hold the Arab Jabour area to the south-east of Baghdad, through which insurgents had been supplying forces in Baghdad. Coalition forces adopted a new counter insurgency strategy of moving out of forward operating bases and living with the population, to provide security and gain more useful intelligence.
in the summer of 2007, MND-C initiated Operation Marne Torch I on June 15, 2007. Consisting of both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, Marne Torch I was launched to establish a security presence on both sides of the Tigris River valley, an area that had not seen a large coalition presence and was under insurgent control. According to MND-C Commander Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch the operation sought specifically to "block accelerants of violence into Baghdad, secure the population and defeat sectarian violence." Lynch said "Accelerants are defined as anything -- insurgents, weapons, materiel, IEDs, VBIEDs, ideology, anything -- that, left uncontrolled, would affect the security in Baghdad."
While being intelligence-driven, Marne Torch had three primary characteristics:
During this phase, more than 1,100 structures were cleared, 83 insurgents killed, and more than 850 citizens were entered into a biometric identification system.
However, Coalition forces failed to transition to a holding strategy as the insurgent network proved too entrenched and Iraqi security forces too immature.
American air power was used extensively during Marne Torch I. During the operation more than 70 air strikes were conducted, including attacks by US Air Force B-1B bomber and F-16C strike aircraft, as well as US Navy F/A-18E Hornets.
The new XM982 Excalibur
satellite-guided artillery round was also utilized with particularly devastating effect, targeting insurgent leaders hiding among the local populace. One example of this particular weapon system being effectively employed, in conjunction with fluid coordination between other American air support assets, occurred on July 14.
Coalition forces received intelligence reports that Al-Qaeda in Iraq
cell leader Abu Jurah and 14 insurgents were meeting at a house in Arab Jabour. The cell was reported to be responsible for IED, VBIED, and indirect fire attacks on Coalition forces. Predicated upon this belief, American commanders went after Jurah with a vengeance. At 1312 zulu time, the meeting house was positively identified. Two XM982 Excalibur
rounds were fired from a M109 Paladin 155mm battery based at Camp Falcon and placed on the house, destroying it. A Predator UAV orbiting overhead observed personnel leaving the rubble of the meeting house, loading wounded persons in to a sedan and driving away. An AH-64 Apache
helicopter gunship arrived over the area and promptly destroyed the sedan. Three more personnel were observed running from the remnants of the meeting house into a nearby structure.
A US Air Force F-16 reported on station and dropped two 500-pound GPS-guided bombs on the structure. A bomb damage assessment confirmed Jurah's death.
Soldiers on the ground also had the advantage of ubiquitous OH-58D Kiowas patrolling the sky, providing near-instantaneous visual reconnaissance and fire support. The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade which operated the Kiowas was responsible for over 70% of insurgent casualties
On July 2 an insurgent leader on the most wanted list was captured in Arab Jabour.
In mid-July, MND-C transitioned to Operation Marne Avalanche
was launched on September 15, 2007 in the Hawr Rajab area. Supported by 700 Iraqis from the newly created Sons Of Iraq
group from Arab Jabour, Coalition forces continued their push along the west bank of the Tigris river, killing or capturing 250 insurgents, destroying 12 boats being used by the insurgents to funnel weapons into Baghdad and uncovering 40 weapons caches, often with tips from the Sons of Iraq.
Coalition forces also established new patrol bases in Arab Jabour, which allowed them to push further south into insurgent sanctuaries in future operations
as well as allow Iraqis to feel secure enough to come forward and volunteer for the awakening movements.
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....
in the Arab Jabour area of Babil province. This campaign is named after Operation Torch, the joint US/British invasion of French North Africa in 1942, presumably because of the two operations' similar thrust in to the enemies southern underbelly.
The first operation, Marne Torch I began on June 16, 2007, when Multi-National Division-Central launched offensive operations against Sunni and Shi'ia extremists, as well as insurgents with Iranian influence in the city and surrounding regions of Arab Jabour in Babil province. The action was intended to clear terrorist sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
as well as reduce the flow of accelerant
Accelerant
Accelerants play a major role in chemistry. Most chemical reactions can be hastened with an accelerant. Accelerants alter a chemical bond, speed up a chemical process, or bring organisms back to homeostasis. Accelerants are not necessarily catalysts as they may be consumed by the process...
s into that city by both combat and civil-military operations. 2000 coalition and 1000 Iraqi army soldiers disrupted insurgent operations by capturing, seizing, and clearing caches that support instability in the area.
Marne Torch II was launched on September 15, 2007 in the Hawr Rajab area. Supported by a newly created Sons Of Iraq
Awakening movements in Iraq
The National Council for the Awakening of Iraq , also known as the Sunni Awakening movement Anbar Awakening or the Sons of Iraq program, are coalitions between tribal Sheikhs in a particular province in Iraq that unite to maintain security in their communities.-About:The movement started among...
group from Arab Jabour, Coalition forces continued their push along the west bank of the Tigris river, killing or capturing 250 insurgents, destroying 12 boats being used by the insurgents to funnel weapons into Baghdad, and uncovering 40 weapons caches, often with tips from the Sons of Iraq.
Background
The 2nd BCTBrigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
of the 3rd infantry division was the 20th and last of the "Surge" brigades to arrive in Iraq. Their mission was to clear and hold the Arab Jabour area to the south-east of Baghdad, through which insurgents had been supplying forces in Baghdad. Coalition forces adopted a new counter insurgency strategy of moving out of forward operating bases and living with the population, to provide security and gain more useful intelligence.
Units Involved
US forces reported to be involved were- 2nd Brigade Combat Team2nd Brigade Combat Team2nd Brigade Combat Team or 2 BCT is a designation for modularized brigades of the United States Army. It may refer to:*2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division *2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division...
, 3rd Infantry Division - 3rd Brigade Combat Team3rd Brigade Combat Team3rd Brigade Combat Team or 3 BCT is a modularized brigade of the United States Army. It may refer to:* 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division * 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division...
, 3rd Infantry Division - 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
- 4th Brigade Combat Team4th Brigade Combat Team4th Brigade Combat Team or 4 BCT is a modularized brigade of the United States Army. Each division of the United States Army fields 4th Brigade Combat Teams numbered from 1-4.*4th Brigade Combat Team , 25th Infantry Division...
, 25th Infantry Division - Support services were provided by the 82nd Sustainment Brigade.
Marne Torch I
As part of the much vaunted "troop surge"Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
in the summer of 2007, MND-C initiated Operation Marne Torch I on June 15, 2007. Consisting of both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, Marne Torch I was launched to establish a security presence on both sides of the Tigris River valley, an area that had not seen a large coalition presence and was under insurgent control. According to MND-C Commander Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch the operation sought specifically to "block accelerants of violence into Baghdad, secure the population and defeat sectarian violence." Lynch said "Accelerants are defined as anything -- insurgents, weapons, materiel, IEDs, VBIEDs, ideology, anything -- that, left uncontrolled, would affect the security in Baghdad."
While being intelligence-driven, Marne Torch had three primary characteristics:
- Speed - Coalition ground units would secure insurgent-held areas and quickly transition to a hold strategy.
- Violence - The insurgency would be struck efficiently and with overwhelming firepower, on the ground and from the air.
- Engagement - US and Iraqi forces would solicit cooperation from the populace by restoring and improving the local infrastructure.
During this phase, more than 1,100 structures were cleared, 83 insurgents killed, and more than 850 citizens were entered into a biometric identification system.
However, Coalition forces failed to transition to a holding strategy as the insurgent network proved too entrenched and Iraqi security forces too immature.
American air power was used extensively during Marne Torch I. During the operation more than 70 air strikes were conducted, including attacks by US Air Force B-1B bomber and F-16C strike aircraft, as well as US Navy F/A-18E Hornets.
The new XM982 Excalibur
XM982 Excalibur
The M982 Excalibur is a 155 mm extended range guided artillery shell developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems Bofors...
satellite-guided artillery round was also utilized with particularly devastating effect, targeting insurgent leaders hiding among the local populace. One example of this particular weapon system being effectively employed, in conjunction with fluid coordination between other American air support assets, occurred on July 14.
Coalition forces received intelligence reports that 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....
cell leader Abu Jurah and 14 insurgents were meeting at a house in Arab Jabour. The cell was reported to be responsible for IED, VBIED, and indirect fire attacks on Coalition forces. Predicated upon this belief, American commanders went after Jurah with a vengeance. At 1312 zulu time, the meeting house was positively identified. Two XM982 Excalibur
XM982 Excalibur
The M982 Excalibur is a 155 mm extended range guided artillery shell developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems Bofors...
rounds were fired from a M109 Paladin 155mm battery based at Camp Falcon and placed on the house, destroying it. A Predator UAV orbiting overhead observed personnel leaving the rubble of the meeting house, loading wounded persons in to a sedan and driving away. An AH-64 Apache
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
helicopter gunship arrived over the area and promptly destroyed the sedan. Three more personnel were observed running from the remnants of the meeting house into a nearby structure.
Soldiers on the ground also had the advantage of ubiquitous OH-58D Kiowas patrolling the sky, providing near-instantaneous visual reconnaissance and fire support. The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade which operated the Kiowas was responsible for over 70% of insurgent casualties
On July 2 an insurgent leader on the most wanted list was captured in Arab Jabour.
In mid-July, MND-C transitioned to Operation Marne Avalanche
Operation Marne Avalanche
Operation Marne Avalanche was a US military operation that occurred in southern Baghdad in July 2007 as part of Operation Phantom Thunder. The goal of the offensive operation was to stop southern Baghdad from being used as a safe haven and to prevent the movement of weapons, munitions and insurgent...
Marne Torch II
Marne Torch IIAwakening movements in Iraq
The National Council for the Awakening of Iraq , also known as the Sunni Awakening movement Anbar Awakening or the Sons of Iraq program, are coalitions between tribal Sheikhs in a particular province in Iraq that unite to maintain security in their communities.-About:The movement started among...
group from Arab Jabour, Coalition forces continued their push along the west bank of the Tigris river, killing or capturing 250 insurgents, destroying 12 boats being used by the insurgents to funnel weapons into Baghdad and uncovering 40 weapons caches, often with tips from the Sons of Iraq.
Coalition forces also established new patrol bases in Arab Jabour, which allowed them to push further south into insurgent sanctuaries in future operations
Operation Phantom Phoenix
Operation Phantom Phoenix was a major nation-wide offensive launched by the Multinational Force Iraq on January 8, 2008 in an attempt to build on the success of the two previous corps-level operations, Operation Phantom Thunder and Operation Phantom Strike and further reduce violence and secure...
as well as allow Iraqis to feel secure enough to come forward and volunteer for the awakening movements.
See also
- The New Way Forward
- Operation Fardh al-Qanoon
- Operation Phantom ThunderOperation Phantom ThunderOperation Phantom Thunder began on June 16, 2007, when Multi-National Force-Iraq launched major offensive operations against al-Qaeda and other extremist terrorists operating throughout Iraq...
- Operation Arrowhead Ripper
- Operation Commando EagleOperation Commando EagleOperation Commando Eagle began on June 21, 2007, when Iraqi and Coalition forces launched a combined ground and air assault operation against al-Qaeda and other extremist terrorists operating in the Mahmudiyah region of Babil province...
- Operation Phantom StrikeOperation Phantom StrikeOperation Phantom Strike was a major offensive launched by the Multi-National Corps - Iraq on August 15, 2007 in a crackdown to disrupt Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Shia extremist operations in Iraq. It consisted of a number of simultaneous operations throughout Iraq focused on pursuing remaining AQI...
- Coalition military operations of the Iraq War
- Iraq Military Operations 2003 to Current - Alphabetical