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Falluja, IraqOn August 15, several hours after night fell over Baghdad, an air assault squadron of the 3rd Infantry Division launched the first attack of Operation Marne Husky. A dozen darkened transport and attack helicopters took off and headed south along the Tigris River, carrying a full company of infantry--about 120 young riflemen with night goggles and weapons loaded. Their objective was a hamlet several dozen miles away. At about 11 P.M., the force landed and rapidly surrounded several small structures. The occupants were taken by surprise. Five suspected insurgents were captured. By 4 A.M., the entire team was airborne...

BAGHDAD, Aug. 24, 2007 – Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraq’s Diyala province. The operation, which involved about 16,000 Iraqi and coalition forces clearing some 50 villages, was a key element in Multinational Corps Iraq’s overall Operation Phantom Strike, and it resulted in 26 al Qaeda members killed, 37 suspected terrorists detained, and the discovery of 10 weapons caches. “The strength and determination of the fighting men and women from the Iraqi...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2007 – Operation Phantom Strike, a series of combined coalition-Iraqi “quick-strike” offensives that launched last week continues to pressure extremist elements across Iraq, a top official there said today. Combined forces will conduct quick-strike raids against remaining extremist sanctuaries and staging areas over the coming weeks, Army Maj. Gen. James E. Simmons, deputy commander for support for Multinational Corps Iraq said during a conference call. “(Forces) will carry out precision-targeting operations against extremist leadership and focus missions to counter the extremists' lethal use of (improvised explosive devices) and the (car bombs),” Simmons said. “We will continue to...

Multi-National Corps-Iraq Conducts Operation Phantom Strike Release Date: 8/13/2007 Release Number: 07-01-03P Description: BAGHDAD - Multi-National Corps-Iraq launched a major offensive, Operation Phantom Strike, on August 13 in a powerful crackdown to disrupt AQI and Shia extremist operations in Iraq. It consists of simultaneous operations throughout Iraq focused on pursuing remaining AQI terrorists and Iranian-supported extremist elements. Recent Coalition offensive operations, such as Fardh Al-Qanoon and Phantom Thunder, have reduced the effectiveness of extremist groups. The operations denied AQI safe havens, disrupted extremist support zones and supply lines, captured or killed significant AQI and Shia extremist leaders, and liberated large...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces are pursuing extremist leaders in Iraq’s remote areas in coordinated “quick strikes” that launched this week, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq told Pentagon reporters today. (Video) Operation Phantom Strike is a series of joint operations that extend from Operation Phantom Thunder, a corps-level offensive that began in June targeting al Qaeda, Sunni insurgents and Shiia extremists in, near and around Baghdad, said Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. “With the elimination of safe havens and support zones due to Phantom Thunder, al Qaeda and Shiite extremists have been forced...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2007 – Operation Phantom Strike is squeezing insurgents in Iraq as the country’s security forces grow, a top U.S. general said here today. Phantom Strike, a joint operation launched this week by coalition and Iraqi forces, is using the information and intelligence gained through operations this summer to more effectively target insurgents throughout Iraq. “Phantom Strike is about keeping the pressure on the enemy and building on the results of previous operations such as Phantom Thunder,” Army Lt. Gen. Carter F. Ham, director of operations for the Joint Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon. The series of...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2007 – Operation Phantom Strike, a joint operation launched this week by coalition and Iraqi forces, is using the information and intelligence gained through operations this summer to more effectively target insurgents throughout Iraq, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman said today. Since the surge of operations began in June, coalition and Iraqi forces have advanced considerably, cleared key Iraqi neighborhoods, and formed relationships with citizens in those neighborhoods, Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner told reporters in Baghdad. Phantom Strike will build on those successes and continue to target terrorists who kill innocent Iraqi citizens and try to...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces launched combat offensives dubbed “Operation Marne Husky” today and “Operation Lightning Hammer” yesterday to eliminate enemy sanctuaries in Iraq. Operation Marne Huskey is an aviation-based combat offensive that plays a key part in Multinational Corps Iraq's overall “Operation Phantom Strike” and will target militant safe havens and weapons smugglers to choke the flow of bombs and weapons reaching the Iraqi capital, military officials said. "The combination of aviation and ground forces will allow Task Force Marne the ability to target areas that the enemy deems as safe," said Army Lt. Col....

United States troops in Iraq launched a major assault against al-Qaeda-linked militants and alleged Iranian-aided extremist groups on Monday as a Sunni leader accused Iran of plotting genocide against his people. Operation Phantom Strike, the military announced, was being waged nationwide to disrupt Shi'ite extremist networks and insurgents affiliated to al-Qaeda, which the Americans blame for most of the violence besieging the country. "It consists of simultaneous operations throughout Iraq focused on pursuing remaining AQI [al-Qaeda in Iraq] terrorists and Iranian-supported extremist elements," the military said. "My intent is to continue to pressure AQI and other extremist elements throughout Iraq...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2007 – Coalition soldiers today launched a major joint offensive, Operation Phantom Strike, in a powerful crackdown to disrupt al Qaeda and Iranian-supported extremist operations in Iraq. Recent coalition offensive operations have reduced the effectiveness of extremist groups, military officials said. Operations have denied terrorists safe havens, disrupted extremist support zones and supply lines, captured or killed significant al Qaeda and other extremist leaders, and liberated large segments of the Iraqi population from their grasp. These combined operations included the coordinated and synchronized efforts of coalition and Iraqi security forces, appreciably improving the lives of the Iraqi...

Operation designed to uproot al Qaeda and Iranian-backed terror groups With one month left before General David Petraeus’ report to Congress on the status of progress in Iraq, Iraqi and Coalition forces have launched the next phase of security operations designed to pursue al Qaeda in Iraq, and the Iranian–backed Special Groups terror cells and the rogue Mahdi Army elements. Operation Phantom Strike was launched today, and “consists of simultaneous operations throughout Iraq focused on pursuing remaining AQI terrorists and Iranian-supported extremist elements.”