[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

The US Army dropped an entire Italy-based brigade into northern Iraq under combat conditions--no ally-protected LZ--and it generated less of a stir at Reuters than did this Froggie practice drop.

[Condor51]

Yep. That was the 173rd Airborne Brigade (aka the Sky Soldiers). It was on the night of March 26-27, 2003.

And after the drop they went on a nice little 20 mile hike (IIRC) while lugging approx 70# of gear, to secure the airfield at Bashur - which they did.