Operation Phantom Thunder

Islamic State of Iraq

Operation 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 Phantom Thunder was a corps level operation, including Operation Arrowhead Ripper in Diyala Province, Operation Marne Torch and Operation Commando Eagle in Babil Province, Operation Fardh al-Qanoon in Baghdad, Operation Alljah in Anbar Province, and continuing special forces actions against the Mahdi Army in southern Iraq and against Al-Qaeda leadership throughout the country.^[8] The operation was one of the biggest military operations in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003.^[9]

Background

From January to June 2007, as part of the "surge", an additional five U.S. brigades arrived in Iraq and were deployed throughout the Baghdad Belts in preparation for the upcoming operation. At the same time, U.S. forces launched "shaping" operations to set the conditions for the operation.^[10]

On June 14, the Diyala Operational Command was established, an Iraqi corps-level command allowing coordination between Iraqi security forces throughout Diyala.^[11]

The Operation

U.S. and Iraqi forces launched attacks on Baghdad's northern and southern flanks mid-June to clear out Sunni insurgents, al-Qaida fighters and Shiite militiamen who had fled the capital and Anbar during the four-month-old security operation. The U.S. wanted to take advantage of the arrival of the final brigade of 30,000 additional U.S. troops to open the concerted attacks.

Operation "Law and Order"

Operation Law and Order had already began on February 14 in an attempt to take back Baghdad which had come more than 70 percent under insurgent control. It became part of Phantom Thunder when that operation started and during the period of Phantom Thunder 311 insurgents, including 26 bombers, were killed in fighting in Baghdad.

Operation "Marne Torch"

Operation Marne Torch began on June 16 in the Arab Jabour and Salman Pak area, conducted by the new Multi-National Division Central. Arab Jabour, being only 20 kilometers southeast from Baghdad, is a major transit point for insurgent forces in and out of Baghdad. By August 14, 2,500 Coalition and Iraqi forces had detained more than five dozen suspected extremists, destroyed 51 boats, killed 88 terrorists and discovered and destroyed 51 weapons caches.^[12]

Operation "Arrowhead Ripper"

Operation Arrowhead Ripper began on June 18, when Multi-National Division-North commenced offensive operations against Al-Qaeda positions in Baquba in Diyala province where fighting had already been going on for months. The operation started with air assaults under the cover of darkness in Baquba. Heavy street fighting lasted throughout the first day of the operation, mainly in the center of the city and around the main city market. On June 22, Coalition attack helicopters killed 17 al-Qaeda gunmen and the vehicle they were using southwest of Khalis in Diyala province.^[13] By August 19, at least 227 insurgents had been killed in Baquba.^[14]

Operation "Commando Eagle"

Operation Commando Eagle began on June 21 in the Mahmudiyah region southwest of Baghdad, conducted by Multi-National Division Central. This region contains the notorious Triangle of Death and was the location where three US soldiers were kidnapped in mid-May 2007.^[14] The operation has so far resulted in 31 detainees and the seizure of multiple large weapons caches. The operation was described as "a mix of helicopter borne air assaults and Humvee-mounted movements."^[15]

Operation "Alljah"

Operation Alljah was being conducted by Multi-National Forces West. In the western Al Anbar province operations attacked insurgent supply lines and weapons caches, targeting the regions of Fallujah, Karma and Thar Thar. Commanders of the operation expressed belief that Fallujah would be cleared by August and that the regions of Karma and Thar Thar would be cleared by July.^[16] On June 17, a raid near Karma killed a known Libyan Al-Qaeda fighter and six of his aides and on June 21 six al-Qaeda members were killed and five were detained during early-morning raids also near Karma. Also on June 23, a U.S. airstrike killed five suspects and destroyed their car bomb near Fallujah. Insurgents also struck back in Fallujah with two suicide bombings and an attack on an off-duty policeman that left four policemen dead on June 22. On June 29, U.S. forces killed a senior al-Qaeda leader east of Fallujah. Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Masri, an Egyptian, was a veteran of both battles of Fallujah. On July 6 a raid west of Fallujah resulted in the killing of an Al-Qaeda in Iraq battalion commander and two of his men and the captured of two more insurgents.^{[17][17][18][19][20][21]}

Actions taken against the Mahdi Army

On June 21, a joint Iraqi-American operation was under way near Hilla to capture or kill members of Moktada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.^[22] Iraqi Special Forces raided Sadr City and captured a “key insurgent leader” on June 20, along with two associates.^[14]

Additional operations

Numerous smaller operations had also been conducted against insurgents, which included attacks on retreating insurgent forces from Baquba in the town of Khalis and other insurgents targets throughout Diyala province. In the fighting in Diyala province an additional 234 insurgents were killed by August 14 beside those killed in operation Arrowhead Ripper, mainly in clashes in and around the town of Khalis. The fierces of the clashes happened when the U.S.-allied insurgent group 1920th revolution brigade and Al-Qaeda fought a battle at Shrween village in Muqdadiya on July 4 killing 20 members of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.^[23]

The Operation ends

On August 14, it was announced that the operation ended. Coalition and Iraqi security forces pushed into areas previously not under their control, and they also ejected insurgent groups from their strongholds in Northern Babil, eastern Anbar and Diyala provinces and on the southern outskirts of Baghdad. During the operation, Iraqi and Coalition forces conducted intelligence raids against al Qaeda in Iraq and the Iranian-backed cells nationwide, with a heavy emphasis on cells in Baghdad, Diyala, and central and northern Iraq. Operation Arrowhead Ripper continued for another five days until August 19 with more intense street fighting in Baquba. The operations continued into operation Phantom Strike.^[24]

Military units involved

US forces reported to be involved were

• 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division
• 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
• 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
• 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
• 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
• 25th Combat Aviation Brigade
• 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
• 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
• Regimental Combat Team 2
• Regimental Combat Team 6
• Task Force 88

Iraqi forces reported to be involved were

• 1st Division
• 4th Division
• 5th Division
• 1st Iraqi National Police Mechanized Brigade

See also

• The New Way Forward
• Operation Fardh al-Qanoon
• Operation Marne Torch
• Operation Arrowhead Ripper
• Operation Commando Eagle
• Operation Phantom Strike
• Operation Phantom Phoenix
• Coalition military operations of the Iraq War

References

External links

• Bill Roggio- Battle of Baquba
• Bill Roggio- Battle of Iraq
• MNF-Iraq- Operation Phantom Thunder
• Stars and Stripes- U.S. Troops Take the Offensive in Baqouba
• Bill Roggio- From Phantom Thunder to Phantom Strike