Operation Swarmer

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Operation Swarmer

Operation Swarmer begins with the largest air assault operation since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Date	March 16, 2006 - March 22, 2006
Location	Samarra, Iraq
Result	Indecisive
Casus belli	Sectarian violence, acts of terrorism

Combatants

US-led coalition, New Iraqi Army

Al Qaeda in Iraq, Iraqi insurgents

Strength

More than 50 aircraft
200 Vehicles
and 1,500 troops

Unknown

Casualties

None

Iraq War
Phases Invasion – Post-invasion (Insurgency – Civil War) Engagements Nasiriyah – Baghdad – Debecka Pass – Peninsula Strike –Red Dawn – Spring 2004 Uprising – 1st Fallujah – 1st Ramadi – Husaybah – Najaf – 2nd Fallujah – Mosul – Matador – Haditha – Steel Curtain – Al-Askari Mosque – 2nd Ramadi – Together Forward Full list of Coalition operations This box: view • talk • edit

Operation Swarmer was a joint U.S-Iraqi air assault offensive targeting insurgents in Salahuddin province, near the central city of Samarra, Iraq. According to the US military, it was the largest air assault in Iraq since the U.S. invasion 3 years ago. This area has been a hotbed for insurgent activity including the kidnapping and killing of civilians and soldiers. Samarra was the site of the bombing of the revered Al-Askari Shiite Shrine on February 22 that set off a wave of sectarian killing that has claimed almost 500 lives. Coalition forces said it had captured a number of weapons caches, containing shells, explosives and military uniforms. The US military expects this operation to last several days. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari stated that insurgents were "trying to create another Fallujah". The Operation has so far netted at least 48 suspects, of which about 17 have been released.^[1] The U.S Military reports no significant resistance, and also says it achieved the tactical surprise factor it was seeking.

Other reports, however, have suggested that the lack of resistance may have been due to a lack of significant targets in the region. Time magazine reports that the area is a farming community with only 1,500 residents.^[1] Time also contested the US military's claim of the largest air assault since the invasion 3 years ago, indicating that no air strikes had occurred. Reporter Christopher Allbritton further reports that no fixed-wing aircraft were involved in the operation. (air assault). ^[2]