List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War
This is a list of coalition military operations of the Iraq War, undertaken by Multi-National Force – Iraq. The list covers operations from 2003 until December 2011. For later operations, see American-led intervention in Iraq.
2003
See also 2003 in IraqThough the initial war lasted for only 26 days, the coalition soon found themselves fighting insurgent forces. Upon completion of the initial conflict the coalition troops began counterinsurgency, humanitarian, security, and various other types of operations to stabilize the country.
| Battle/Operation name | From date | To date | Location | Purpose/Result |
| Operation Iraqi Freedom | 19 03 2003 | 31 08 2010 | Iraq | U.S. invasion in Iraq. Planned to end with the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops, and succeeded by Operation New Dawn. |
| Operation Bastille | Throughout Iraq | Forward Presence: Was the code name for the operation to deploy force elements and prepare for possible combat operations in Iraq | ||
| Objective Buford | Bashur, near the city of | Security: Set up a perimeter and traffic checkpoints around an airfield, which has a runway. | ||
| Battle of Umm Qasr | 21 03 2003 | 25 03 2003 | Umm Qasr | Battle: Was the first military confrontation in the Second Iraq War. |
| Battle of Nasiriyah | 23 03 2003 | 29 03 2003 | Nasiriyah | Battle: During the fighting 18 marines and 11 soldiers were killed and about 50 were wounded, while the Iraqi resistance was neutralized fairly rapidly thereafter. |
| Operation Northern Delay | 26 03 2003 | 26 03 2003 | Bashur Airfield | Security: Forced the Iraqi Army to maintain approximately six divisions in the area to protect its northern flank, providing strategic relief for Coalition Forces advancing on Baghdad. Also may have been associated with the name "Operation Option North" whose objective was to seize the city of Kirkuk, the northern oil fields and several military airfields in the area. |
| Battle of Baghdad | 03 04 2003 | 12 04 2003 | Baghdad | Battle: The invasion of the city commenced three days after Allied forces had secured the Baghdad airport |
| Battle of Debecka Pass | 06 04 2003 | 06 04 2003 | Debecka Pass | Battle: To secure a major crossroads near the village of Debecka |
| Operation Airborne Dragon | 07 04 2003 | 07 04 2003 | Bashur Airfield, northern Iraq | Contingency: Marked the beginning of the first expeditionary insertion of a U.S. armored force into combat by air. |
| Operation Planet X | 15 05 2003 | 15 05 2003 | A village near Ad Dawr and Al Dur, 11 mi north of Tikrit | Contingency: American raid to capture Ba'athists |
| Operation Peninsula Strike | 09 06 2003 | 13 06 2003 | Balad | Contingency: American raid to capture Ba'athists. |
| Operation Desert Snowplough | 12 06 2003 | 03 08 2007 | Al-Qurna district North of Basra | Contingency: Codename for Danish operations under British command. |
| Operation Desert Scorpion | 15 06 2003 | 29 06 2003 | Fallujah, from Kirkuk in the north to Taji in the south | Contingency: American raid to capture Ba'athists. |
| Operation Spartan Scorpion | 15 06 2003 | 16 06 2003 | Throughout Iraq | Contingency: Consisted of nationwide raids designed to remove all remaining Ba'ath Party, non-compliant forces and paramilitary forces |
| Operation Scorpion Sting | 16 06 2003 | 16 06 2003 | the Thawra neighborhood of Baghdad | Contingency: Coalition soldiers found and confiscated three pistols, one rifle, two mortar rounds and detained 31 suspected criminals |
| Operation Sidewinder | 29 06 2003 | 07 07 2003 | a city about 20 kilometers east of al-Taji | Contingency: Raids against suspected Hussein supporters. Was designed in support of Operation Desert Scorpion. It involved the 4th Infantry Division, who were tasked with securing highways. |
| Operation Iron Bullet | Baghdad | Security: Was designed to collect dangerous ordnance and transport it out of the city where it can be safely handled or destroyed | ||
| Operation Tyr | Tikrit | Security: Destroyed a series of stationary targets without risk of civilian casualties but with high visibility. Was an assault conducted by the 4th Infantry Division in Tikrit, primarily as a show of force to deter terrorist and anti-coalition forces. The 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment destroyed a series of stationary targets without risk of civilian casualties but with high visibility. Troops also destroyed Iraqi tanks using high explosive munitions. No one was reported injured in the operation. | ||
| Operation Ivy Serpent | 12 07 2003 | 21 07 2003 | a region along Highway 1 between the cities of Bayji, Huwayiah and Samarra | Counterinsurgency: Was a preemptive strike focused aggressively on non-compliant forces and former regime leaders who are planning attacks against coalition forces in an attempt to hinder coalition and Iraqi efforts in building a new Iraq. Was an American anti-insurgent sweep in Sallahadin and Diala provinces. It was conducted concurrently with Operation Soda Mountain. The operation was centered on a section of Highway 1 north of Baghdad near the towns of Bayji, Huwayiah, and Samarra. The American action was based on the Fourth Infantry Division whose insignia is ivy. This is a play on the Roman numeral "IV". |
| Operation Soda Mountain | 12 07 2003 | 17 07 2003 | throughout Iraq | Counterinsurgency: To increase reconnaissance and presence throughout the whole of Iraq to deter, disrupt and rapidly defeat attacks on coalition forces. Was a nationwide sweep by American and Coalition Forces against insurgents and remnants of the former regime conducted from 12 to 17 June 2003. As a result of this series of almost 150 raids, 62 Ba'athist leaders were captured and a large number of weapons seized. Simultaneously, humanitarian missions such as repairing and rebuilding public buildings were conducted. Conducted roughly concurrently with Operation Ivy Serpent. |
| Operation White House | 16 07 2003 | 16 07 2003 | Baghdad | Counterinsurgency: Troops of the 101st Airborne Division stormed the residence of Samir Abd Al-Aziz Al-Najim, the central Baath Party chairman for Baghdad |
| Operation Tapeworm | 22 07 2003 | 22 07 2003 | Mosul | Security and counterinsurgency: killing of Uday and Qusay Hussein, Saddam Hussein's sons |
| Operation Ivy Lightning | 12 08 2003 | 12 08 2003 | Baghdad, Ain Lalin and Quara Tapa along the Jabal Hamrin Ridge north of the city | Counterinsurgency: A number of small weapons stores were uncovered. Was a raid conducted by elements of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. A number of small weapons stores were uncovered. The names of many operations of the 4th Infantry Division took the name "Ivy", a pun on the Roman numeral "IV." |
| Operation Silverado | 16 08 2003 | 16 08 2003 | Subak Sur | Counterinsurgency: To capture suspected insurgents and seize weapons stockpiles. Was a small operation conducted by the 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard in Subak Sur. |
| Operation Ivy Needle | 26 08 2003 | 26 08 2003 | Khalis, in and near; 70 kilometers north of Baghdad | Counterinsurgency: Was a raid conducted by elements of the 4th Infantry Division in and near Khalis, seventy kilometers north of Baghdad, on 26 August 2003. The operation disrupted a criminal gang active in the area. |
| Operation Longstreet | between Baghdad and Fallujah | Counterinsurgency: Numerous weapons stores were destroyed and enemy personnel taken into custody without the loss of a single American life. Was a two-week series of raids and cordon operations conducted by elements of the First Armored Division and the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, as well as 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Numerous weapons stores were destroyed and enemy personnel taken into custody without the loss of a single American life. The operation was named after a Confederate General James Longstreet. | ||
| Operation Desert Thrust | throughout Iraq | Counterinsurgency: Was the name given by 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division to their operations in Iraq beginning on their arrival in October 2003 | ||
| Operation Chamberlain | Sinjar, the border southwest of | Security and Surveillance: Was an American border-security operation mentioned in press releases on 15 October 2003. It involved ground surveillance Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft to feed information to ground elements of the 101st Airborne Division in near–real time. The Ukrainian 5th Detached Mechanized Brigade was also involved in the operation. This operation was named after US general Joshua Chamberlain. | ||
| Operation Industrial Sweep | Samarra | Counterinsurgency: Was a search of parts of the city of Samarra by elements of the 4th Infantry Division during Post-invasion Iraq. | ||
| Operation Tiger Clean Sweep | 07 10 2003 | 07 10 2003 | Security and Counterinsurgency: : Was a border security operation conducted by the "Tiger" Squadron of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment announced on 7 September 2003, near Al Qa'im. The town was cordoned off and searched, yielding a number of small arms and fourteen persons suspected of being insurgents. | |
| Operation Sweeny | 15 10 2003 | 15 10 2003 | southern Iraq | Law enforcement: Anti-smuggling operation by the Marines. Elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capablecompleted humanitarian assistance, anti-smuggling and security and stabilization operations, 25 October in southern Iraq as part of Operation Sweeney. The MEU SOC, a component of Expeditionary Strike Group One, composed mostly of Marines stationed with the 1st Marine Division of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, provided medical and dental capability and produced more than of water for citizens in the region. |
| Operation O.K. Corral | 19 10 2003 | Ar Ramadi | Counterinsurgency: Was a sweep operation conducted by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division in Ar Ramadi beginning on 19 October 2003. Over ninety people were detained, including four senior officers of the former Iraqi Army. | |
| Operation Abalone | 31 10 2003 | 31 10 2003 | Ramadi | Members of A Squadron 22 SAS, assaulted three compounds/dwellings on the outskirts of Ramadi where US intelligence had tracked a Sudanese jihadist who was facilitating Islamist militants into Iraq. The SAS were supported by Delta Force and a platoon of US Bradley IFV's. |
| Operation Eagle Curtain | northern Iraq | Security and Counterinsurgency: Troops participated in 311 patrols, four cordon and knock operations, and eventually detained eight individuals. Was a series of raids and roadblocks conducted by the 101st Airborne Division. Eight persons were detained as suspected insurgents associated with the former government. The name is derived from the "Screaming Eagles" nickname for the 101st Airborne Division. | ||
| Operation All American Tiger | 06 11 2003 | Counterinsurgency: Was an operation with an objective of capturing insurgents associated with the old regime. At least a dozen prisoners were taken, several of whom were on the American "Most Wanted" list. The first phase was launched by the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. This operation was designed to target those who suspected of attacking Coalition forces. At least 12 men were detained and some were targeted suspects including Abd Hamad Salah, Huri Mukhlif, Al Ani, Ahmed Kadar Hamad, Faleeh Mahessn, Thair Muklaf Hamadi, and Mohamed Hinde Saeel. The name of the operation is derived from the nickname for the 82nd Airborne Division. | ||
| Operation Rifle Sweep | 06 11 2003 | 06 11 2003 | the Iraq-Syria border | Counterinsurgency: Focused on the search and seizure of weapons and munitions |
| Operation Ivy Cyclone | 07 11 2003 | Tikrit | Counterinsurgency: Was designed to locate and detain or eliminate persons seeking to harm coalition forces or Iraqi civilians. The operation was executed by the 4th Infantry Division. On 7 November, an American helicopter was forced down near the city, and the next day heavy air and artillery strikes supported a number of military operations in the area. | |
| Operation Boothill | 10 11 2003 | 10 11 2003 | Ar Ramadi | Counterinsurgency: Was designed to clear and secure the roads outside the city and to seize any contraband weapons. |
| Operation Iron Hammer | 12 11 2003 | Baghdad | Security and Counterinsurgency: Was a joint operation between the US Army, US Air Force and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps with the objective of preventing the staging of weapons by anti-coalition forces, and preemptively destroy enemy operating bases and fighters in Baghdad | |
| Operation Ivy Cyclone II | 17 11 2003 | Tikrit, near | Counterinsurgency: American operation near Tikrit | |
| Operation Rifles Blitz | 20 11 2003 | Al Qaim | Security: Was a house-to-house search of the Iraqi Syria-frontier border region close to Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, led by the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Involved troops from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division. | |
| Operation Rifle Sweep | 26 11 2003 | 26 11 2003 | along the Iraq-Syria border | Counterinsurgency: Focused on the search and seizure of weapons and munitions |
| Operation Bayonet Lightning | 02 12 2003 | 02 12 2003 | Al Hawija and the village of Rashad, 60 km to the south of Kirkuk | Counterinsurgency: Designed to capture weapons, materials, and people that posed a threat against Coalition Forces. 1,200 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the 4th Infantry Division, and Iraqi military participated. They located and confiscated sixty-two AK-47 assault rifles, two hundred rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one rocket propelled grenade launcher and two improvised explosive device-making kits. Twenty six individuals were captured, including three targeted individuals, Saad Mohammed ad-Douri, the private secretary of Izzat Ibrahim ad-Douri, and Hamid Saad, a senior official of the Ba'ath Party. |
| Operation Bulldog Mammoth | 04 12 2003 | 04 12 2003 | Baghdad, northwest of | Security: A brigade-sized cordon and search of an Abu Ghurayb apartment complex. The operation lasted about five-and-a-half hours and involved approximately 1,450 soldiers. It was led by the US Army's 1st Armored Div., 3rd Brigade Combat Team and was supported by the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, more than 300 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps personnel and an Estonian army platoon. The cordon and search went through 2,400 apartments, 53 additional buildings and seized hundreds of rifles and other weapons. The soldiers detained 40 personnel, including three on a by-name "black" list of suspects who were caught in the outer cordon while trying to escape the area. |
| Operation Clear Area | 06 12 2003 | 06 12 2003 | Central Iraq, between Ar Rifa'i and Qal'at Sukkar | Counterinsurgency: Was a search and seizure operation utilizing vehicle check points |
| Operation Abilene | 08 12 2003 | 08 12 2003 | Al Anbar province | Counterinsurgency: Soldiers initiated 12 raids that resulted in the capture of 12 individuals and a number of various weapons. Was conducted by the US Army's 1st Infantry Division, 1st Brigade. The operation consisted of twelve raids to capture or eliminate individuals responsible for attacking coalition forces. The operation was successful and resulted in the capture of 12 personnel and the confiscation of various weapons. |
| Operation Panther Squeeze | 10 12 2003 | 10 12 2003 | Latifiya | Counterinsurgency: Was a series of 18 night-time raids by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. These raids seem to have been in response to an ambush that killed seven Spanish intelligence officers in November. About forty enemy personnel were captured. |
| Operation Red Dawn | 13 12 2003 | 13 12 2003 | ad-Dawr | Security and counterinsurgency: American capture of Saddam Hussein. |
| Operation Panther Backroads | 15 12 2003 | 15 12 2003 | Ar Ramadi | Law enforcement and counterinsurgency: Was an attempt to stop insurgent smuggling. Was launched by the 82nd Airborne Division in the Sunni Triangle in an attempt to stop insurgent smuggling. |
| Operation Arrowhead Blizzard | 17 12 2003 | 17 12 2003 | Samarra | Counterinsurgency: Seven targets classified as high-value were captured by the 4th Infantry Division and the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in the Sunni Triangle. |
| Operation Ivy Blizzard | 17 12 2003 | 17 12 2003 | Samarra | Counterinsurgency: Counterinsurgency sweep by US forces. Launched just days after the capture of Saddam Hussein, which led some to believe that information that led to the operation may have come from Saddam. |
| Operation Iron Justice | 18 12 2003 | 18 12 2003 | Baghdad, southern portion | Law enforcement: Captured 28 fuel trucks and nine propane trucks illegally dispensing fuel as part of black market activity. Was a U.S. Army operation aimed at ending insurgent run Black Market fueling activities south of the city. It involved the 1st Armored Division and 82nd Airborne Division. |
| Operation Rifles Fury | 21 12 2003 | Fallujah | Counterinsurgency: Seizure of weapons caches including 204 RPGs. Was a coalition strike at insurgent training camps in the Rawah area. Led by the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment along with soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and 4th Infantry Division. The operation was nicknamed by the soldiers involved as Operation Santa's Claws. | |
| Operation Devil Siphon | 23 12 2003 | 23 12 2003 | Ar Ramadi | Law enforcement: Was aimed at curtailing the growing black market of fuel and propane and restoring Iraq's fuel infrastructure. Like Operation Rifles Fury, this operation was a coalition strike aimed at ending Black Market fuel and propane operations run by insurgent marketeers. The operation involved the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and Iraqi Police. |
| Operation Overcoat | 23 12 2003 | 23 12 2003 | Mosul | Humanitarian: Delivered more than 500 pounds of coats, clothes, shoes, and toys |
| Operation Salm | 23 12 2003 | 23 12 2003 | Fallujah | Operation Salm was designed to give a higher profile to coalition forces in Fallujah and more exposure to residents. The second objective was to paralyze anti-coalition forces by flooding the streets with soldiers and checkpoints. This operation took place on 23 December 2003, and lasted from 5:30 am to 3:00 pm. Members of the 10th Mountain Division and 82nd Airborne Division participated and reported they detained 12 enemy personnel. |
| Operation Santa Strike | 23 12 2003 | 23 12 2003 | Mosul | Humanitarian: Delivered more than 500 pounds of coats, clothes, shoes, and toys |
| Operation Iron Force | 24 12 2003 | Baghdad | Counterinsurgency: The objective was to capture or eliminate any rebel forces seeking to capitalize on the holiday season to attack coalition forces | |
| Operation Iron Grip | 24 12 2003 | 31 12 2003, at least | Baghdad | Counterinsurgency: Was designed to intensify the pressure on Saddam loyalists |
| Operation Choke Hold | 30 12 2003 | 30 12 2003 | Baghdad | Counterinsurgency: To stop the influx of bomb making materials into the city |