Operation Peninsula Strike

Operation Peninsula Strike was a series of raids conducted by American troops from 9 to 13 June 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It took place on a peninsula alongside the Tigris River near Balad, Iraq. Conducted by members of Task Force Ironhorse, US forces sought to eliminate Ba'ath Party members, paramilitary, and other subversive units. Specifically, US Forces were to hit five objectives simultaneously, detain the targets and screen them for intelligence.

Operation Peninsula Strike
Part of The War on Terrorism,
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Date9 June 2003 – 13 June 2003
Location
Balad, Iraq
Result Capture of Ba'ath Party Officials; failure to suppress early insurgency
Belligerents
United States Iraqi Insurgents
Commanders and leaders
Unknown
Casualties and losses
4 wounded

27 Killed

320[1]–397 captured
None Reported

The operation

Attacking from helicopters, small boats and in armored vehicles, American forces set up road blocks and began a large raid that included over one thousand soldiers who quickly captured 397 suspects. Among those who were targeted for capture were two persons on the 'Most Wanted List': Major General Abul Ali Jasmin, the former Minister of Defense, and Brigadier General Abdullah Ali Jasmin, former head of the military academy. However, none of the targets were at the objectives. Of the 397 initially detained, most were released within days of the operation.

On the last day of the operation, a force of Iraqi insurgents attacked a patrol from the 4th Infantry Division, which was involved in the operation. The insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades at the 4th Infantry Division tank patrol. The tanks returned fire, killing four attackers and forcing the others to flee. Later, backed by Apache helicopters, the U.S. forces pursued the remaining attackers, killing another 23.

Numerous weapons cashes were seized.[2]

Units involved

Included elements of the:

See also

Operation Peninsula Strike followed Operation Planet X and preceded Operation Desert Scorpion.

References
  1. Nance, Malcolm W., The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003-2014, CRC Press, 2014 ISBN 1498706894 ISBN 978-1498706896
  2. Nance, Malcolm W., The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003-2014, CRC Press, 2014 ISBN 1498706894 ISBN 978-1498706896

Global Security: Operation Peninsula Strike

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