- Operation Sinbad
-
Operation Sinbad Part of the Iraq War Date September 27, 2006 - February 18, 2007 Location Basra, Iraq Result Partial stabilisation of Basra, eventual British troop withdrawal Belligerents 
UK
New Iraqi Army
DenmarkMahdi Army Strength 5,300 Unknown Casualties and losses 11 KIA, 27 WIA (U.K.),[1]
1 KIA (Denmark),[2]
17 killed (Iraqi security forces)[3]12+ killed, 29 captured (Confirmed Losses - More Unconfirmed) Operation Sinbad was an operation led by the Iraqi Security Forces and supported by British, Danish and other Multi-National Forces in southern Iraq.[4][5][6] The operation began during the early hours of September 27, 2006. The stated goal of the operation was to root out corrupt police as well as offer assistance to the residents of the area in rebuilding. An estimated 2,300 Iraqi army troops and 1,000 British soldiers were taking part in the operations with another 2,000 in close proximity.[4][6] The rebuilding and cleaning out of corrupted police is taking place in preparation of handing over security of the city of Basra to the Iraqi government.[5][6]
Contents
Rebuilding
The rebuilding portion of the project is primarily being carried out by Iraqi engineers with "low level immediate impact projects" such as school repairs and basic infrastructure such as foot bridges. Other basic tasks include street cleaning and fixing of street lights, fixing power cables and improving water systems.[6] Midterm programs include hospital repairs and renovation as well as distribution of educational materials.[5] Long term civil programs include the restoration of the local farm plantations.[4]
Military aspect
The military aspect is to remove, to root out the corruption that has plagued the Iraqi police as Shi'ite militias have begun infiltrating them. Forces consisting of "transition teams" of Royal Military Police will be inserted into local police stations looking for those "unable or unwilling to perform their duties", the teams will operate in each station for up to 30 days.[4][5][6] Although comparisons have been made with the U.S. and Iraqi security drive in Baghdad named "Operation Together Forward",[4] where the militias are first removed and then civil affairs projects follow, the problems in Basra are significantly different; with an almost wholly Shia population, the sectarian violence and Sunni insurgency seen in Baghdad are not major issues, but criminality and factional in-fighting are.
During the operation there were numerous insurgent attacks on the British and other coalition forces that resulted in casualties.
Timeline
While the operation was ongoing a bus carrying seventeen police trainers was stopped near Basra on October 29, and all of the occupants kidnapped. All seventeen were found executed four hours later. A police chief from the Serious Crime Unit was arrested on December 22, along with six other officers. It is thought that he led the death squad responsible for the killing of the trainers.
On December 25, 2006 British forces backed up by the Iraqi army attacked the headquarters of the Serious Crime Unit in Basra after intelligence was received that corrupt police officers were preparing to execute all 127 prisoners kept there. The British destroyed the building killing seven gunmen. All of the prisoners were rescued, some reportedly showing signs of torture.
On January 28, 2007, acting on intelligence, British soldiers conducted dawn raids in Az Zubayr, near Basra. Ammunition, light rockets, bomb-making paraphernalia, radio equipment and timer units were discovered at a house. Around 500 mortar rounds were later seized from a compound where troops had earlier spotted men transferring weapons into two vehicles. Up to five militants were captured.
On February 18, 2007, the operation ended, the same day when British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated in a televised address that in the coming months 3,000 of the more than 7,000 British troops will be withdrawn from Iraq. By July 1,500 troops were withdrawn and the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated that no more troops will be coming out of Iraq saying that if any more troops would withdraw the remaining soldiers would not be able to defend themselves.
References
- ^ "British Ministry of Defence web site". http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInIraqBritishFatalities.htm.
- ^ Danish soldier killed in gunfight in Iraq - iht,europe,Denmark Iraq - Europe - International Herald Tribune
- ^ JTW News - 17 Iraqi police killed near Basra
- ^ a b c d e "British and Iraqi troops begin new security operation in Basra". International Herald tribune. September 27, 2006. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/27/africa/ME_GEN_Iraq_Basra_Crackdown.php.
- ^ a b c d "British launch Iraq police purge". BBC. September 27, 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5384294.stm.
- ^ a b c d e "British troops launch charm offensive in Basra". Gulf Times. September 27, 2006. http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=109947&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17.
See also
2006 Iraq war Operations2006 Operations Arctic Sunrise • Al Majid • Babil Peremeter • Baghdad is Beautiful • Barnstormer • Bastogne • Beastmaster • Benefit Day • Bold Action • Chepultepec • Cobra Strike • Commando Hunter • Constitution Hammer • Coolspring VIII • Cougar • Cowpens • Dealer • Dirty Harry • Dragons Breath • Eagle Watch • El Toro Loco • Enduring Education • Falcon Sweep • Gaugamela • Gladiator • Glory Light • Guardian Tiger • Harvest Lights • Helping Hands • Industrial Revolution • Iron Arrow • Iron Arrow II • Iron Triangle • Jaws V • King Tut • Koa Canyon • Lightning Blitz • Lion • Lion Hunt • Lion Hunt II • Lofty Summit • Medusa • Minotaur • Money Worth • Moonlight • Northern Lights • Passage • Pitbull • Polar Black Diamond • Polar Valor • Post Hawk • Raging Bull • Red Bull • Red Light II • River Falcon • Roaring Tiger • Sandstorm • Scales of Justice • Scorpion • Smokewagon • Stallion Run • Sterling • SOUK • Swamp Fox • Swarmer • Swift Sword • Talon (Iraq) • Thunder Cat • Tinto • Together Forward • Trifecta • Tropical Lightning • Unified Fist • United FrontSee also Prior events Disarmament crisis · WMD claims · Rationale · Popular opinion · Public relations · February interview · Biological weapons
Invasion Multi-National Force · Timeline · Battle of Nasiriyah · Invasion of Baghdad · Debecka Pass · Firdos Square statue · Mission Accomplished Speech
Occupation Military operations Coalition Provisional Authority · Iraq Interim Governing Council · Insurgency · Human rights · Civil war · Execution of Saddam Hussein · U.S. troop withdrawal · Insurgent attacks · Aircraft losses
Opinions Opposition · Protests · Criticism · Legitimacy · United Nations · International community · Associated people
Controversy Mahmudiyah killings · Blackwater Baghdad shootings · Haditha killings · Ishaqi incident · Mukaradeeb wedding party massacre · Baghdad airstrike · Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse · Iraq War documents leak · Baghdad Museum looting
Aftermath Refugees · Duelfer Report · Damage to Baghdad · Aid and Investment · Economic reform · Financial cost · Casualties · Chilcot Inquiry
Timeline Iraq War at Wikinews · Commons Categories:- Military operations of the Iraq War in 2006
- Military operations of the Iraq War in 2007
- Military operations of the Iraq War involving the United Kingdom
- Military operations of the Iraq War involving Iraq
- Military operations of the Iraq War involving Denmark
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