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Operation Lightning Hammer pursues al-Qaeda

Aug-14-2007 » Filed Under: 4/2 SBCT

Elements of the 4/2 SBCT are involved in this operation.

Multi-National Division – North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – TIKRIT, Iraq – Operation Lightning Hammer, involving approximately
16,000 Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces, began Aug. 13 with a large-scale offensive
to defeat al-Qaeda and other terrorist cells seeking safe haven throughout the Diyala
River Valley. This operation is a key part of Multinational Corps-Iraq’s overall operation,
Phantom Strike.

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, partnered with
members of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, initiated the operation with a late-night air
assault into targeted locations to capture or kill al-Qaeda responsible for the violence
against Iraqi civilians.

“Al-Qaeda cells were disrupted and forced into hiding due to Operation
Arrowhead Ripper in June and July,” said Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commander of
Task Force Lightning and Multinational Division North. “Our main goal with Lightning
Hammer is to eliminate the terrorist organizations throughout MND-N and show them
that they truly have no safe haven – especially in Diyala.”

Taking advantage of concentrated forces in Diyala province, Lightning Hammer’s
goal is to target al-Qaeda elements that fled from Baqouba into the outlying regions
north of Diyala’s capital city.

In addition to the thousands of Soldiers and their ISF counterparts participating in
Lightning Hammer, attack helicopters, close-air support, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and
tanks compliment the combined effort.

In addition to 3-1 Cavalry Division, elements of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry
Division; 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division; 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division; 4th
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and 25th Combat Aviation Brigade are also conducting
operations in support of Lightning Hammer.

Elements of the 4th and 5th Iraqi Army Divisions, along with Iraqi Police units from Diyala
province are teamed with Coalition Forces in a majority of Lightning Hammer
operations.

“The Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces are committed to the people of Diyala, they
are committed to fighting for the Iraqi people’s security,” Mixon said. “We will
aggressively and persistently target al-Qaeda, an organization that brings nothing but
hatred, destruction, and disregard for the very foundation of the Iraqi peoples’ principles
and faith.”


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