Operation Arrowhead Ripper Battle of Baqubah

in june lt. colonel antonia s request assistance answered. 3/2 brigade command staff , regular s sister battalion 1st battalion 23rd infantry,tomahawks, arrived. in june 2007 , iraqi forces launched major offensive operation throughout iraq codenamed operation phantom thunder designed secure baghdad belts. part of offensive, multinational division north launched operation arrowhead ripper in diyala province. 3rd stryker brigade combat team, 2nd infantry division along members of 2-505th 82nd airborne division, launched offensive quick-strike night-time air assault on 18 june 2007. daylight, attack helicopters , ground forces had engaged , killed estimated 22+ insurgents in , around baqubah. in morning hours 1 soldier, co 1-12 cav, killed when bradley fighting vehicle struck large deep buried mine outside abandoned clinic on southwestern edge of city. in 30 insurgents , 1 u.s. soldier killed end of first day of operation, according military sources.

a team leader operation arrowhead ripper pulls security iraqi man speaks interpreter, 19 june, in village in outskirts of baqubah, 19 june 2007.

“the end state destroy al-qaeda influences in province , eliminate threat against people,” said brig. gen. mick bednarek, deputy commanding general, operations, 25th infantry division. “that number one, bottom-line up-front, in-your-face, task , purpose.”

approximately 2,000 american combat soldiers, additional 4,500 american support troops located on f.o.b. warhorse, iraqi army brigade, 500 iraqi police officers, 155 mm howitzer field artillery support, continuous apache attack helicopter presence, american , british close air support, stryker , bradley fighting vehicles, took part in arrowhead ripper.

“one of keys initiate combat actions , operations here newly formed diyala operations center,” bednarek said. “it serves integration center coordinate activities in diyala – police, army , coalition forces task force lightning.”

“the key significance, though, getting iraqi ministries engaged provide fundamental goods , services, such food, fuel, displaced persons support, , education,” bednarek continued. “the governor have oversight , people start see improved basic services build trust , confidence of people not in provincial government, in central government well.”

throughout clearance operations in western baqubah 1 trend continued occur. local population overjoyed be, put it, liberated american forces. these neighborhoods, while under al qaeda control, had been subjected sharia, strict islamic law, severe penalties. local populace talked of things smoking, women failing wear appropriate facial , body coverings, or placing cucumbers close tomatoes on vegetable cart being harshly punished. location of several al qaeda detention , torture centers, punishments handed down these islamic courts carried out. these punishments included amputation, eye removal, , death name few.

on 23 june 2 suspected senior tanzim qaidat al-jihad fi bilad al-rafidayn leaders captured , detained baghdad; no further information on identity has been forthcoming. feared high-profile suspects have fled area before operation began.

as of 26 june, significant fighting continued. insurgent casualties given 55 on 23 june. until 27 june, estimated 5 more militants, possibly more, reported killed coalition sources.

by 28 june, fighting in @ least parts of town had ceased. , allied troops documented moving in daylight , relaxed poses. on 1 july, 3 iraqi soldiers killed , 3 others wounded during raid on town house, although there violence such murders, seems civil rather (para) military in nature , of 4 july, there little indication situation in baqubah different other places in iraq significant mnf presence.

on other hand, town of al khalis, approx. 15 km away, seems have become major restaging point insurgents retreating baqubah, despite nearby presence of significant forces @ fob grizzly , people s mujahedin of iran personnel @ ashraf city .

on 3 july, mnf troops killed 25 , detained 5 suspected terrorists , uncovered 10 weapons caches during 3-day operation @ mukhisa, ne of baqubah, in support of operation arrowhead ripper.

however, fighting flared again days later, numerous reports of casualties later week. residents reported shelling intense, , iraqi islamic party (isp) has accused multi-national forces operating in area of committing new massacre in baqubah. operations led forces in western baqubah led death of more 350 people, of whom still under rubble, isp said in statement. majority of american shelling , aerial bombardment occurred during july , august defeat overwhelming number of explosive laden houses, rigged , left behind traps fleeing al qaeda forces. 1 such home detonated on american forces attempting clear of insurgent forces on 6 august, , resulted in 4 american deaths. army admits 80 per cent of al-qaeda leaders fled area, in june, during initial stages of operation.

15 july aco 1-12 cavalry engaged insurgents in mechanics area of southern baqubah, killing 2 , wounding 3.

16 july, aco 1-12 cav members ambushed while patrolling in insurgent occupied areas of palm groves south of baqubah on diyala river. several friendly sunni militiamen killed , wounded mine initiated ambush.

on 14 august, overall operation phantom thunder ended , operation arrowhead ripper ended 19 august. baqubah largely secured coalition forces, still insurgent presence remained in city , surrounding areas, not in such large numbers before attack on city.