Operation Swarmer

Operation Swarmer
Operation Swarmer
Part of the Post-invasion Iraq
Operation Swarmer.jpg
Operation Swarmer begins with the largest air assault operation since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Date March 16, 2006 - March 22, 2006
Location Samarra, Iraq
Result Indecisive
Belligerents
United States US-led coalition,
Iraq New Iraqi Army
Flag of Jihad.svg Al Qaeda in Iraq,
Iraq Iraqi insurgents
Strength
More than 50 aircraft,
200 Vehicles
and 1,500 troops
Unknown
Casualties and losses
None 48 Captured (17 were later released)

Operation Swarmer was a joint U.S-Iraqi air assault offensive targeting insurgents in Salahuddin province, near the central city of Samarra, Iraq.

According to the US military, it was the largest air assault in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003. The area was a hotbed for insurgent activity including the kidnapping and killing of civilians and soldiers. Samarra was the site of the bombing of the revered Al-Askari Shiite Shrine on February 22 that set off a wave of sectarian killing that claimed almost 500 lives. Coalition forces said they had captured a number of weapons caches containing shells, explosives and military uniforms. The US military expected this operation to last several days. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari stated that insurgents were "trying to create another Fallujah". The Operation netted at least 48 suspects, of which about 17 were released.[1] The U.S Military reports no significant resistance, and also says it achieved the tactical surprise factor it was seeking.

Other reports, however, have suggested that the lack of resistance may have been due to a lack of significant targets in the region. Time magazine's Brian Bennett reported that the area is a farming community with only 1,500 residents.[1] Time also contested early television news reports that the operation was the largest use of air power since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, indicating that no air strikes had occurred. Bennett points out that the military term air assault refers specifically to moving troops into an area. Reporter Christopher Allbritton further reports that no fixed-wing aircraft were involved in the operation. However, the lack of fixed-wing aircraft and the use of airstrikes does not mean that the mission was not, by definition, an air assault.[2]

See also

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Operation Swarmer — Die Operation Swarmer (deutsch Schwärmer) war eine militärische Operation im Nordirak nahe der Stadt Samarra und galt den mutmaßlichen Extremisten der Terrororganisation al Qaida. Die Militäraktion begann in den Morgenstunden des 16. März 2006… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Operation Schwärmer — Operation Swarmer Die Operation Swarmer (deutsch Schwärmer) war eine militärische Operation im Nordirak nahe der Stadt Samarra und galt den mutmaßlichen Extremisten der Terrororganisation al Qaida. Die Militäraktion begann in den Morgenstunden… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Operation Together Forward — Part of the Iraq War Date June 14, 2006 – October 24, 2006 Location Baghdad, Iraq …   Wikipedia

  • Operation River Falcon — Date 25 July 2006 27 July 2006 Location Sayifiyah Result Detained 1 suspect, performed humanitarian support and discovered several roadside bombs …   Wikipedia

  • Operation Sinbad — Part of the Iraq War Date September 27, 2006 February 18, 2007 Location Basra, Iraq Res …   Wikipedia

  • Operation Gaugamela — Date July 2006 Location just west of Kirkuk Result detained 154 terror suspects and seized hundreds of weapons …   Wikipedia

  • Operation Iron Triangle — Location Tikrit Result The operation resulted in the detention of 200 suspected terrorists and the confiscation of weapons and propaganda materials at an insurgent training camp southwest of the city …   Wikipedia

  • Operation Scorpion — Part of the Post invasion Iraq Date March 24, 2006 March 25, 2006 Location Kirkuk, Iraq …   Wikipedia

  • List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War — Operation Aloha redirects here. For the band, see Operation Aloha (band). Nordlicht redirects here. For the Kriegsmarine ship, see SS Nordlicht. Operation Falcon Freedom redirects here. For the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973… …   Wikipedia

  • Michael D. Steele — For other people named Michael Steele, see Michael Steele (disambiguation). Michael Dane Steele Born Statham, Georgia Allegiance …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”