Monafiqeen-e-Khalq Surrender (2003)

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Monafiqeen-e-Khalq Surrender
Part of the Post-invasion Iraq

The 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (United States) break the US ceasefire and fan out across the Fallujah desert to surround a major MEK compound and demand their surrender.
Date May 11, 2003
Location Iraq
Result Coalition victory
Combatants
Flag of United States United States Monafiqeen-e-Khalq (People's Mujahedin of Iran)
Casualties
None 6000 Captured
Iraq War
Invasion – Post-invasion (Insurgency – Civil War)

Battles & operations – Bombings and terrorist attacks

After the 2003 American invasion of Iraq, Monafiqeen-e-Khalq (MEK) camps were bombed by coalition forces because of their alliance with Saddam Hussein. On April 15th, U.S. Special Forces brokered a ceasefire agreement with the leaders of the MEK.[1] This was a controversial agreement both in the public sphere and privately among the Bush administration due to the MEK's designation as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.[2] Soon, this worry became overpowering and the U.S. decided to break its ceasefire with the MEK and take its members into custody.

On May 11th, 2003 US forces launched simultaneous surprise attacks on MEK compounds across Iraq.[3][4][5] After surrounding the MEK compounds in Iraq with an overwhelming force on both the land and in the air, each compound surrendered without hostilities.

In the operation, the US reportedly captured 6000 MEK soldiers and over 2000 peices of military equipment to include 19 British-made Chieftain tanks.[6][7] The MEK compound outside Fallujah became known as Camp Fallujah and sits adjacent to the other major base in Fallujah, Forward Operating Base Dreamland. Captured MEK members were kept at Camp Ashraf, about 100 kilometers west of the Iranian border and 60 kilometers north of Baghdad.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/abu-ghurayb.htm "Abu Ghurayb" GlobalSecurity.org
  2. ^ Nicole Cafarella (2005-03-15). Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK) Dossier (pdf).
  3. ^ "Labeled terrorist group turns over weapons to U.S." Eric Slater / The Los Angeles Times. The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Mich.: May 12, 2003. pg. A.3
  4. ^ "U.S. gets Iranian rebels in Iraq to disarm" E.A. Torriero, Tribune staff reporter Tribune news services contributed to this report. Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Ill.: May 11, 2003. pg. 8
  5. ^ "Agreement disbands Iranian exile force" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wis.: May 11, 2003. pg. 14 A
  6. ^ "Armed Iranian exiles surrender ; 6,000-member unit accepts U.S. terms" John Sullivan, Knight Ridder Newspapers. The Record. Bergen County, N.J.: May 11, 2003. pg. A.17
  7. ^ US DOD: DoD News Briefing M2 Presswire. Coventry: Jun 19, 2003. pg. 1
  8. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/camp-ashraf.htm "Camp Ashraf" US Military Occupation Facilities GlobalSecurity.org
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