Operation Swarmer
The Operation Swarmer ( German enthusiast ) was a military operation in northern Iraq near the city of Samarra and was the suspected extremists of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda . The military action began in the morning hours of March 16, 2006 and was the largest air offensive to date since the official end of the war on May 1, 2003 .
Around 50 warplanes and 200 tactical ground vehicles were used in the attack. Ground troops were also used, the number of which was put at 1,500, including around 600–700 soldiers from the Iraqi government troops.
The American army leadership responded with this military action to the continuing violence in the region and insurgents in the Hamrin Mountains. In February there was a devastating attack on the Shiite shrine , the sacred Golden Mosque in the city of Samarra. Al-Arabija news channel reporter Atwar Bahjat was also murdered in the region.
Operation Swarmer ended on March 22nd with an unclear outcome.
