Operation Steel Curtain
The Operation Steel Curtain ( of steel curtain ) was a military offensive in the western Iraqi province of Al-Anbar , near the Syrian border. The aim of Operation Steel Curtain was to seal off the border in order to prevent foreign fighters and Islamists from entering. The operation began on November 5, 2005, when coalition forces attacked Husaybah village, a rebel stronghold. The fighting over this place lasted four days. An attack on the city of Karabilah took place on November 10 and another four days later on Ubaydi. The towns and villages that were the target of an attack during the operation were brought under the control of coalition forces by November 17, 2005, and the operation was successfully terminated.
The operation was carried out by the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment. Troops from the newly formed Iraqi army were also involved in the operation . It was the first major offensive in which two battalions of Iraqi troops took part.
According to the Pentagon, 10 marines were killed in the fighting during the operation. 30 US soldiers were injured. An unknown number of Iraqi army soldiers were also killed. According to the Pentagon, 169 insurgents were killed and 208 arrested.
Web links
- Battle plan (English)