TASK FORCE "IRONHORSE" LAUNCHES OPERATION PENINSULA STRIKE

CENTCOM ^ | June 10, 2003

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

CENTCOM:

 

June 10, 2003
Release Number: 03-06-39


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


TASK FORCE "IRONHORSE" LAUNCHES OPERATION PENINSULA STRIKE

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- During the early morning hours of June 9th, Task Force Ironhorse soldiers conducted a series of raids to eradicate Ba’ath Party loyalists, paramilitary groups and other subversive elements located on a peninsula along the Tigris River, northeast of Balad, Iraq. The raids signaled the start of Operation Peninsula Strike.

The operation took place in two major stages. The first stage of the operation involved moving soldiers and equipment into strike positions, intelligence gathering, and coordination with local police. During the second stage, raids were conducted within the area of operation via land, air and water to capture or destroy subversive elements. Air assault teams, ground attack squads, raid teams, river patrol boats and local security combined forces to block off escape routes and operate check points to ensure the operation’s success.

Operation Peninsula Strike's joint, combined arms team is comprised of U.S. Army infantry, armor, artillery, aviation, and engineers, and U.S. Air Force aviation elements.

So far, Operation Peninsula Strike has resulted in the capture of 397 suspects and the seizure of numerous weapon systems and ammunition. A 10:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M. curfew has been implemented on the peninsula for the safety and security of civilians and Coalition forces. Task Force Ironhorse continues to seize illegal weapons in support of the National Weapons Policy implemented on June 1, 2003.

As the operation continues, specially trained soldiers are screening the detainees to determine who may be released and who will be retained for further questioning. These soldiers are also processing information which can be used in the apprehension of hostile groups who continue to try to harm Coalition forces and innocent Iraqi people. The information gathered will also assist Coalition forces in providing a safe and secure environment for the Iraqi people.

Task Force Ironhorse remains resolute in its commitment to work with Coalition forces and the local citizens to stop subversive groups that seek to hinder rebuilding efforts. The success of Operation Peninsula Strike will help move the Iraqi people one step closer to a safe, secure and free country.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

CENTCOM:

*COALITION EFFORTS AID IRAQ'S RECOVERY (June 10, 2003)

*COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (June 10, 2003)

***Operation Infinite Freedom - Sit Room - 10 JUN 03/Day 83***

[McGavin999]

Good! Glad to see this. We've got to get serious about these renegades, the sooner they're eliminated the better.

[Dog Gone]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[VaBthang4]

[mystery-ak]

HOOAH....stay safe boys...we are waiting for you to come home.

[Arkinsaw]

I bet these morons suddenly realized that a peninsula is not a real good place to set up a guerilla base. LOL

[mass55th]

"Good! Glad to see this. We've got to get serious about these renegades, the sooner they're eliminated the better."

Agreed. It was definitely time for this.

[BagCamAddict]

specially trained soldiers are screening the detainees to determine who may be released and who will be retained for further questioning.

Here's a hint: If they have a mustache like Saddam, and if they have more than 5% body fat, then they are bad guys.

Thanks RC, sorry I didn't reply to your ping a week or so ago.

[Madcelt]

Bumpity ,Bump, Bump! (Thanks still worried though, this is the dangerous part,the "peace". God Bless all of Forces them and keep them safe.)

[clintonh8r]

Time to open another can of whoop-ass....

[DoughtyOne]

No kidding. LOL "Say where's the boat? What boat? I thought you were bringing the boat!"

[blam]

Ping. (This offensive)

[Burkeman1]

Well- if any of them are bumb enough to be out in the country and not in cities then this should be a successful campaign.

[El Gato]

Well- if any of them are bumb enough to be out in the country and not in cities then this should be a successful campaign.

Maybe, what this penninsula appears to be is the land inside of the major loop on the Tigres river. North of Baghdad, and as the article states northeast of Balad. The map I looked at doesn't show the terrain very well, although it does show marshy and swampy areas..usually. If the place is marshy, it might be a good place to hide, like the Mekong Delta sort of. Or since it's well watered at least, it might be heavily vegetated. Not all of Iraq is dessert you know, especially in the Tigress Valley, and increasingly less so as you move north of Baghdad. Still they may be able to hide from the ground troops, kinda sorta, but it's got to be rather difficult to hide anything other than troops, small arms and stuff such as mortars and heavy machine guns, from airborne assets, either Army rotary or AF fixed wing. And if you actually find a nest of 'em, well that MOAB still hasn't been combat tested. :)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They need to demostrate the MOAB over there!

[Coop]

A reminder that our forces still face serious dangers overseas.

[Search4Truth]

Kill all the terrorists and beat the rest into submission.

[Fee]

We are also training a brigade size COIN force made up of Iraqi Kurds, anti-Baathist Sunni, and moderate Shi'ites. This force will be used to recon and attack pro-Saddam areas thus freeing up our troops for other missions (i.e Iran). Wait and in several months you will hear about these troops. At least you first heard it here on the Free Republic. Saddam diehards' days are numbered. Time will tell.

[Mr. Silverback]

Kill or jail all Ba'athists. No exceptions.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Hi, you. We're supposed to reply to the pings? Oh, oh. (^;

CENTCOM - Daily:

*COALITION EFFORTS AID IRAQ’S RECOVERY (June 11, 2003)
*COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (June 11, 2003)

 

Tales of Saddam's Brutality [lengthy, graphic, White House websight] (includes lengthy press/Senate e-mail contact list) 
White House -> various press. ^ | Updated regularly, latest - June 3, 2003

---

VOICES OF FREEDOM
Quotes from the grateful Iraqi people. Y

 

“I have no more fear now. From the moment Iraq was liberated I felt as though my two sons had been brought back to me.”
A woman whose 17-year-old son, Sardar Osman Faraj, was executed in Iraq in 1985 and another was killed by unknown assassins in 1992. Los Angeles Times, 6/8/03

“Every day I buy a different paper. I like them all.”
Ali Jabar, 28, picking up a Kurdish daily newly available in Iraq, Washington Post, 6/8/03

“It's a big change. We used to get central instructions from the Ministry of Information. Now we no longer do. Azzaman is independent. It lets the readers learn and decide the political currents.”
Abdel-Majid, of the Azzaman newspaper in Iraq, Washington Post, 6/8/03

“Newspapers are not the only forum being used to express political views in postwar Iraq. The walls of the capital – once decorated with portraits of Saddam Hussein – have become a battleground for competing ideas. They even show a sense of humor. In Baghdad this week, the following was neatly written in marker on the back of a double-decker bus: ‘Very urgent, wanted: New president for Iraq.’”
Washington Post, 6/8/03

~~~

***Operation Infinite Freedom - Sit Room - 11 JUN 03/Day 84***

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

We are also training a brigade size COIN force made up of Iraqi Kurds, anti-Baathist Sunni, and moderate Shi'ites. This force will be used to recon and attack pro-Saddam areas thus freeing up our troops for other missions (i.e Iran). Wait and in several months you will hear about these troops. At least you first heard it here on the Free Republic. Saddam diehards' days are numbered. Time will tell.

Thank you for that info. I agree. This military - from leadership to Private is one professional, thorough and "modest" bunch. They will not boast - even when deserved.