Operation Marne Torch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Operation Marne Torch
Part of the Post-invasion Iraq (Operation Phantom Thunder)
Date June 16, 2007 - August 14, 2007 (Marne Torch 1) September 15, 2007 - October 14, 2007 (Marne Torch II) Location Babil Province, Iraq Result U.S. military raids successful; Disruption of insurgent supply lines
Belligerents
United States New Iraqi Army	Iraqi Insurgency Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Commanders
General Rick Lynch (Task Force Marne) Colonel Terry Ferrell (2-3BCT) Colonel Wayne W. Grigsby Jr. (3-3HBCT)
Strength
3000 (2000 Coalition, 1000 Iraqi) [1]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
13 killed (U.S.), 3 killed (Iraqi security forces), 1 OH-58 Kiowa shot down	88 killed, 278 detained[2]

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. The first operation, Marne Torch I began on June 16, 2007, when Multi-National Division-Central launched offensive operations against al-Qaeda and other extremist terrorists in the city and surrounding regions of Arab Jabour in Babil province. The action was intended to clear terrorist sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad. 2000 coalition and 1000 Iraqi army soldiers disrupted insurgent operations by capturing, seizing, and clearing caches that support instability in the area.^[3]

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.^[1]

[edit] Background

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (April 2008)

The 2nd BCT 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.

[edit] Units Involved

US forces reported to be involved were

• 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
• 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
• 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
• 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

[edit] Marne Torch I

As part of a large nation-wide offensive launched in June 2007, MND-C launched a major offensive 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. The operation consisted of a series of raids, patrols and clearing operations. According to Joshua Paltrow of the Washington Post, "In the first week of the southern offensive, known as Marne Torch in the Arab Jabour Region, five suspected insurgents have been killed and more than 60 others detained." ^[4]As of June 21, there have been 237 houses cleared since the start of Marne Torch. ^[5]

By the time the operation concluded on July 15, nearly 1200 houses had been cleared, 83 insurgents had been killed and 278 more captured. A large number of weapons caches were also uncovered. Coalition forces used air power to avoid terrain mined by insurgents. They conducted a number of air assaults and air strikes to "trap and destroy" insurgent forces. The Combat Aviation Brigade was responsible for over 70% of insurgent casualties^[1]

[edit] Marne Torch II

Soldiers from the 3rd HBCT of the 3rd Infantry Division patrol in Salman Pak.

Marne Torch II 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.^[1]

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.^[1]

[edit] See also

• The New Way Forward
• Operation Fardh al-Qanoon
• Operation Phantom Thunder
  • Operation Arrowhead Ripper
  • Operation Commando Eagle
• Operation Phantom Strike
• Coalition military operations of the Iraq War
• Iraq Military Operations 2003 to Current - Alphabetical

[edit] External links

• Task Force Marne

United States Marine Corps Portal

Iraq War Portal

Iraq Portal

[edit] References