- Operation Spear
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Operation Spear Part of the Post-invasion Iraq Date June, 2005 Location Karabillah, Iraq Belligerents United States
New Iraqi ArmyIraqi Insurgency Operation Spear was a United States operation, conducted by U.S. Marines, in Karabillah, Iraq, announced in June 2005. The main objective was to provide proof of foreign fighters, mainly Syrian, passing through the borders between Iraq and Syria. Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines (3/25), Kilo and Weapons Companies, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines (3/2) took part.
Operation Spear began on June 17, 2005. A force of about 1,000 Marines and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team 2 and Iraqi soldiers form 1st Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade took part in the offensive [1]. The operation took place around Karabilah near the Syrian border. Coalition leaders said that foreign fighters were using the area to infiltrate into Iraq. In the city they would receive help from other anti-Iraqi forces. From the city foreigners would spread around Iraq. They were said to be part of a terror network led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi[1]
The operation was designed to root out anti-Iraqi and anti-coalition forces and destroying some of their support system. In clearing out the city coalition forces found 4 Iraqi hostages held in a bunker in the center of the city. The forces also found and destroyed several weapons caches and improvised explosive devices [2]. While clearing the city Marines and Iraqi forces came under heavy fire but managed to fight off the insurgents with only one friendly killed in action.[3] Air strikes were called in on three buildings which were subsequently destroyed. There were said to be 4 civilian casualties that were evacuated to military hospitals[4].
It followed Operation Lightning and was followed by Operation Dagger.
References
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 2005 Iraq war Operations2005 Operations Able Rising Force • Able Warrior • Attleboro (Iraq) • Badlands • Big Dig • Block Party • Block Party II • Bow Country • Bowie • Bruins • Bull Dawg Chariot • Carentan • Centaur Showdown • Checkmate • Chepultepec • Clear Decision • Cobweb (MND-CS) • Copperas Cove • Cyclone • Dagger • Demon Digger • Doctor • Dragons Breath • Dunlap • East Lansing • Flea Flicker • Fontana • Great Lakes • Green Trident • Grey Wolf II • Hedgehog • Hudson • Hunter • Iron Fist • Iron Hammer • Joint Venture • Kennesaw Dragon • Keystone Sweep • Knockout • Lanthonid • Liberty Express • Lightning • Lions • Matador • Mongoose • Moon • Moon River Dragon • Mountaineers • Moving Forward • Muthana Strike • National Unity • Neighborhood Watch • New Market • Open Window • Panthers(Numur) • Peninsula (MND-CS) • Pitchfork • Quickstrike • Rams • Restoring Rigthts • River Blitz • River Gate • River Walk • San Juan • Saratoga • Scimitar • Scrimmage • Seahorse • Shadyville • Shank • Skinner • Spear (Romhe) • Spider Web • Squeeze Play • Steel Curtain • Strategic Separation • Swashbuckle • Sword • Therapist • Thunder • Tigers (Numur) • Uhasar • Unforgiven • Vacant City • Warrior's Rage • White Shield • Wolf Stalk 2 • WoodstockSee also Iraq • Invasion • Post Invasion • Iraq Operations - Chronological • Timeline • Terrorist Attacks • Casualties
Categories:- Military operations of the Iraq War involving the United States
- Military operations of the Iraq War involving Iraq
- Military operations of the Iraq War in 2005
- Iraqi insurgency
- United States Marine Corps in the Iraq War
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