List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War in 2003

File:AAV-Nsry.jpg

A USMC Assault Amphibious Vehicle destroyed at Nasiriyah, Iraq, in a mantainance area. 11 April 2003.

This is a list of known Coalition military operations of the Iraq War that occurred in 2003.

Though the initial war lasted for only 21 days the coalition soon found themselves fighting insurgent forces more and more often. With the increasing use of guerilla tactics, suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices, just walking down the street became extremely dangerous. Upon completion of the initial conflict the coalition troops began counterinsurgency, humanitarian, security and various other types of operations in order to stabilize the country and make it safe for the Iraqi people. From the end of the initial war until the present day, these are the types of operations that coalition troops continue to complete in efforts to eliminate the insurgency and anti-coalition forces.

Surrender of Monafiqeen-e-Khalq

2003 military operations

Battle/Operation name	From date	To date	Location	Purpose and result
Operation Iraqi Liberation	02003-03-19 March 19 2003	02010-08-31 August 31 2010	Iraq	U.S. invasion/war on terror in Iraq. Planned to end with the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops, and succeeded by Operation New Dawn (see 2010 below).
Operation Option North	02003 2003	02003 2003	Kirkuk	Objective was to seize the city, the northern oil fields and several military airfields in the area
Operation Bastille	02002-09 September 2002	02003-03 March 2003	Throughout Iraq	Was the code name for the operation to deploy force elements and prepare for possible combat operations in Iraq
Objective Buford	02003-03 March 2003	02003-03 March 2003	Bashur, near the city of	Set up a perimeter and traffic checkpoints around an airfield, which has a runway Template:Convert.
Operation Falconer	02003-03-18 March 18 2003	02003-06 June 2003	throughout Iraq	Australian operations during the invasion of Iraq
Operation Antica Babilonia	02003-07-15 July 15 2003	02006-12-01 December 01 2006	Nasiriyah	Italian peacekeeping mission in Nasiriyah
Battle of Umm Qasr	02003-03-21 March 21 2003	02003-03-25 March 25 2003	Umm Qasr	Was the first military confrontation in the Second Iraq War.
Battle of Nasiriyah	02003-03-23 March 23 2003	02003-03-29 March 29 2003	Nasiriyah	During the fighting 18 Marines and 11 soldiers were killed and about 50 were wounded, while the Iraqi resistance was crushed fairly rapidly thereafter.
Operation Northern Delay	02003-03-26 March 26 2003	02003-03-26 March 26 2003	Bashur Airfield	Forced the Iraqi Army to maintain approximately six divisions in the area to protect its northern flank, providing strategic relief for Coalition Forces advancing on Baghdad
Battle of Baghdad (2003)	02003-04-03 April 03 2003	02003-04-12 April 12 2003	Baghdad	The invasion of the city commenced three days after Allied forces had secured the Baghdad airport
Battle of Debecka Pass	02003-04-06 April 06 2003	02003-04-06 April 06 2003	Debecka Pass	To secure a major crossroads near the village of Debecka
Operation Airborne Dragon	2003040	02003-04-07 April 07 2003	Bashur Airfield, northern Iraq	Marked the beginning of the first expeditionary insertion of a U.S. armored force into combat by air.
Operation Planet X	02003-05-15 May 15 2003	02003-05-15 May 15 2003	A village near Ad Dawr and Al Dur, 11 mi (18 km) north of Tikrit	American raid to capture Ba'athists
Operation Peninsula Strike	02003-06-09 June 09 2003	02003-06-13 June 13 2003	Balad	American raid to capture Ba'athists.
Operation Desert Snowplough	02003-06-12 June 12 2003	02007-08-03 August 03 2007	Al-Qurna district North of Basra	Codename for Danish operations under British command.
Operation Desert Scorpion (Iraq 2003)	02003-06-15 June 15 2003	02003-06-29 June 29 2003	Fallujah, from Kirkuk in the north to Taji in the south	American raid to capture Ba'athists. (included a number of lesser operations such as Scorpion Sting, Spartan Scorpion and Rifles Scorpion)
Operation Spartan Scorpion	02003-06-15 June 15 2003	02003-06-16 June 16 2003	Throughout Iraq	Consisted of nationwide raids designed to remove all remaining Ba'ath Party, non-compliant forces and paramilitary forces
Operation Scorpion Sting	02003-06-16 June 16 2003	02003-06-16 June 16 2003	the Thawra neighborhood of Baghdad	Coalition soldiers found and confiscated three pistols, one rifle, two mortar rounds and detained 31 suspected criminals
Operation Sidewinder	02003-06-29 June 29 2003	02003-07-07 July 07 2003	a city about 20 kilometers east of al Taji	Raids against suspected Hussein supporters. Was designed in support of Operation Desert Scorpion. It involved the 4th Infantry Division, who were tasked with securing highways.
Operation Iron Bullet	02003-07 July 2003	02003-07 July 2003	Baghdad	Was designed to collect dangerous ordnance and transport it out of the city where it can be safely handled or destroyed
Operation Tyr	02003-07 July 2003	02003-07 July 2003	Tikrit	Destroyed a series of stationary targets without risk of civilian casualties but with high visibility. Was an assault conducted by the 4th Infantry Brigade in Tikrit, primarily as a show of force to deter terrorist and anti-coalition forces. The 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment destroyed a series of stationary targets without risk of civilian casualties but with high visibility. Troops also destroyed Iraqi tanks using high explosive munitions. No one was reported injured in the operation.
Operation Telic	02003-07-11 July 11 2003	Ongoing	throughout Iraq	The codename under which all British operations of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and after are being conducted
Operation Ivy Serpent	02003-07-12 July 12 2003	02003-07-21 July 21 2003	a region along Highway 1 between the cities of Bayji, Huwayia, and Samarra	Was a preemptive strike focused aggressively on non-compliant forces and former regime leaders who are planning attacks against coalition forces in an attempt to hinder coalition and Iraqi efforts in building a new Iraq. Was an American anti-insurgent sweep in Sallahadin and Diala provinces. It was conducted concurrently with Operation Soda Mountain. The operation was centered on a section of Highway 1 north of Baghdad near the towns of Bayji, Huwayiah, and Samarra. The American action was based on the Fourth Infantry Division whose insignia is ivy. This is a play on the Roman numeral "IV".
Operation Soda Mountain	02003-07-12 July 12 2003	02003-07-17 July 17 2003	throughout Iraq	To increase reconnaissance and presence throughout the whole of Iraq to deter, disrupt and rapidly defeat attacks on coalition forces. Was a nationwide sweep by American and Coalition Forces against insurgents and remnants of the former regime conducted from 12–17 June 2003. As a result of this series of almost 150 raids, 62 Ba'athist leaders were captured and a large number of weapons seized. Simultaneously, humanitarian missions such as repairing and rebuilding public buildings were conducted. Conducted roughly concurrently with Operation Ivy Serpent.
Operation Catalyst	02003-07-16 July 16 2003	Ongoing	throughout Iraq	Australian rehabilitation and reconstruction
Operation White House	02003-07-16 July 16 2003	02003-07-16 July 16 2003	Baghdad	Troops of the 101st Airborne Division stormed the residence of Samir Abd Al-Aziz Al-Najim, the central Baath Party chairman for Baghdad
Operation Tapeworm	02003-07-22 July 22 2003	02003-07-22 July 22 2003	Mosul	Killing of Uday and Qusay Hussein, Saddam Hussein's sons
Operation Ivy Lightning	02003-08-12 August 12 2003	02003-08-12 August 12 2003	Baghdad, Ain Lalin and Quara Tapa along the Jabal Hamrin Ridge north of the city	A number of small weapons stores were uncovered. Was a raid conducted by elements of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. A number of small weapons stores were uncovered. The names of many operations of the 4th Infantry Division took the name "Ivy", a pun on the Roman numeral "IV."
Operation Silverado	02003-08-16 August 16 2003	02003-08-16 August 16 2003	Subak Sur	To capture suspected insurgents and seize weapons stockpiles. Was a small operation conducted by the 39th Infantry Brigade (Light) (Separate/Enhanced) of the Arkansas National Guard in Subak Sur.
Operation Ivy Needle	02003-08-26 August 26 2003	02003-08-26 August 26 2003	Khalis, in and near; 70 kilometers north of Baghdad	Was a raid conducted by elements of the 4th Infantry Division in and near Khalis, seventy kilometers north of Baghdad, on 26 August 2003. The operation disrupted a criminal gang active in the area.
Operation Longstreet	02003-09 September 2003	02003-09 September 2003	between Baghdad and Fallujah	Numerous weapons stores were destroyed and enemy personnel taken into custody without the loss of a single American life. Was a two-week series of raids and cordon operations conducted by elements of the First Armored Division and the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Numerous weapons stores were destroyed and enemy personnel taken into custody without the loss of a single American life. The operation was named after a Confederate General James Longstreet.
Operation Desert Thrust	02003-10 October 2003	02003-10 October 2003	throughout Iraq	Was the name given by 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division to their operations in Iraq beginning on their arrival in October 2003
Operation Chamberlain	02003-10 October 2003	02003-10 October 2003	Sinjar, the border southwest of	Was an American border-security operation mentioned in press releases on 15 October 2003. It involved ground surveillance Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft to feed information to ground elements of the 101st Airborne Division in near–real time. The Ukrainian 5th Detached Mechanized Brigade was also involved in the operation. This operation was named after US general Joshua Chamberlain (US Civil War).
Operation Industrial Sweep	02003-10 October 2003	02003-10 October 2003	Samarra	Was a search of parts of the city of Samarra by elements of the 4th Infantry Division during Post-invasion Iraq.
Operation Tiger Clean Sweep	02003-10-07 October 07 2003	02003-10-07 October 07 2003		Was a border security operation conducted by the "Tiger" Squadron of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment announced on 7 September 2003 near Al Qa'im. The town was cordoned off and searched, yielding a number of small arms and fourteen persons suspected of being insurgents.
Operation Sweeny	02003-10-15 October 15 2003	02003-10-15 October 15 2003	southern Iraq	Anti-smuggling operation by the Marines. Elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable(SOC)completed humanitarian assistance, anti-smuggling and security and stabilization operations, 25 October in southern Iraq as part of Operation Sweeney. The MEU SOC, a component of Expeditionary Strike Group One(ESG), composed mostly of Marines stationed with the 1st Marine Division of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, provided medical and dental capability and produced more than Template:Convert of water for citizens in the region.
Operation O.K. Corral	02003-10-19 October 19 2003	02003-10 October 2003	Ar Ramadi	Over ninety people were detained, including four senior officers of the former Iraqi Army. Was a sweep operation conducted by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division in Ar Ramadi beginning on 19 October 2003. Over ninety people were detained, including four senior officers of the former Iraqi Army.
Operation Eagle Curtain	02003-11 November 2003	02003-11 November 2003	northern Iraq	Troops participated in 311 patrols, four cordon and knock operations, and eventually detained eight individuals. Was a series of raids and roadblocks conducted by the 101st Airborne Division. Eight persons were detained as suspected insurgents associated with the former government. The name is derived from the "Screaming Eagles" nickname for the 101st Airborne Division.
Operation All American Tiger	02003-11-06 November 06 2003	02003 2003		Was an operation with an objective of capturing insurgents associated with the old regime. At least a dozen prisoners were taken, several of whom were on the American "Most Wanted" list. The first phase was launched by the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. This operation was designed to target those who suspected of attacking Coalition forces. At least 12 men were detained and some were targeted suspects including Abd Hamad Salah, Huri Mukhlif, Al Ani, Ahmed Kadar Hamad, Faleeh Mahessn, Thair Muklaf Hamadi, and Mohamed Hinde Saeel. The name of the operation is derived from the nickname ("All American") for the 82nd Airborne Division.
Operation Rifle Sweep	02003-11-06 November 06 2003	02003-11-06 November 06 2003	the Iraq-Syria border	Focused on the search and seizure of weapons and munitions
Operation Ivy Cyclone	02003-11-07 November 07 2003	02003-11 November 2003	Tikrit	Was designed to locate and detain or eliminate persons seeking to harm coalition forces or Iraqi civilians. The operation was executed by the 4th Infantry Division. On 7 November, an American helicopter was forced down near the city, and the next day heavy air and artillery strikes supported a number of military operations in the area.
Operation Boothill	02003-11-10 November 10 2003	02003-11-10 November 10 2003	Ar Ramadi	Was designed to clear and secure the roads outside the city and to seize any contraband weapons.
Operation Iron Hammer(Matraqa Hadidia)	02003-11-12 November 12 2003	02003 2003	Baghdad	Was a joint operation between the US Army, US Air Force and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps with the objective of preventing the staging of weapons by anti-coalition forces, and preemptively destroy enemy operating bases and fighters in Baghdad.
Operation Ivy Cyclone II	02003-11-17 November 17 2003	02003 2003	Tikrit, near	American operation near Tikrit
Operation Rifles Blitz	02003-11-20 November 20 2003	02003 2003	Al Qaim	Was a house-to-house search of the Iraqi Syria-frontier border region close to Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, led by the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Involved troops from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division. (US News, 12 August 2003, Iraq Hack: A Reporter's Blog, 11 December 2003)
Operation Rifle Sweep	02003-11-26 November 26 2003	02003-11-26 November 26 2003	along the Iraq-Syria border	Focused on the search and seizure of weapons and munitions
Operation Bayonet Lightning	02003-12-02 December 02 2003	02003-12-02 December 02 2003	Al Hawija and the village of [ashad, 60 km (37 mi) to the south of Kirkuk	Designed to capture weapons, materials, and people that posed a threat against Coalition Forces
Operation Bulldog Mammoth	02003-12-04 December 04 2003	02003-12-04 December 04 2003	Baghdad, northwest of	American search of an apartment complex.
Operation Clear Area	02003-12-06 December 06 2003	02003-12-06 December 06 2003	Central Iraq, between Ar Rifa`i and Qal`at Sukkar	Was a search and seizure operation utilizing vehicle check points
Operation Abilene	02003-12-08 December 08 2003	02003-12-08 December 08 2003	Al Anbar province	Soldiers initiated 12 raids that resulted in the capture of 12 individuals and a number of various weapons. Was conducted by the US Army’s 1st Infantry Division, 1st Brigade. The operation consisted of twelve raids to capture or eliminate individuals responsible for attacking coalition forces. The operation was successful and resulted in the capture of 12 personnel and the confiscation of various weapons.
Operation Panther Squeeze	02003-12-10 December 10 2003	02003-12-10 December 10 2003	Latifiya	Was a series of 18 night-time raids by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. These raids seem to have been in response to an ambush that killed seven Spanish intelligence officers in November. About forty enemy personnel were captured.
Operation Red Dawn	02003-12-13 December 13 2003	02003-12-13 December 13 2003	ad-Dawr	American capture of Saddam Hussein.
Operation Panther Backroads	02003-12-15 December 15 2003	02003-12-15 December 15 2003	Ar Ramadi	Was an attempt to stop insurgent smuggling. Was launched by the 82nd Airborne Division in the Sunni Triangle in an attempt to stop insurgent smuggling.
Operation Arrowhead Blizzard	02003-12-17 December 17 2003	02003-12-17 December 17 2003	Samarra	Seven targets classified as high-value were captured by the 4th Infantry Division and the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in the Sunni Triangle.
Operation Ivy Blizzard	02003-12-17 December 17 2003	02003-12-17 December 17 2003	Samarra	Counterinsurgency sweep by US forces
Operation Iron Justice	02003-12-18 December 18 2003	02003-12-18 December 18 2003	Baghdad, southern portion	Captured 28 fuel trucks and nine propane trucks illegally dispensing fuel as part of black market activity. Was a U.S. Army operation aimed at ending insurgent run Black Market fueling activities south of the city. It involved the 1st Armored Division and 82nd Airborne Division.
Operation Rifles Fury	02003-12-21 December 21 2003	02003-12 December 2003	Fallujah	Seizure of weapons caches including 204 RPGs. Was a coalition strike at insurgent training camps in the Rawah area. Led by the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment along with soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and 4th Infantry Division. The operation was nicknamed by the soldiers involved as Operation Santa's Claws.
Operation Devil Siphon	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	Ar Ramadi	Was aimed at curtailing the growing black market of fuel and propane and restoring Iraq's fuel infrastructure. Like Operation Rifles Fury, this operation was a coalition strike aimed at ending Black Market fuel and propane operations run by insurgent marketeers. The operation involved the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and Iraqi Police.
Operation Overcoat	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	Mosul	Delivered more than 500 pounds of coats, clothes, shoes, and toys
Operation Salm	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	Fallujah	Operation Salm was designed to give a higher profile to coalition forces in Fallujah and more exposure to residents. The second objective was to paralyze anti-coalition forces by flooding the streets with soldiers and checkpoints. This operation took place on 23 December 2003 and lasted from 5:30 am to 3:00 pm. Members of the 10th Mountain Division and 82nd Airborne Division participated and reported they detained 12 enemy personnel.
Operation Santa Strike	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	02003-12-23 December 23 2003	Mosul	Delivered more than 500 pounds of coats, clothes, shoes, and toys
Operation Iron Force	02003-12-24 December 24 2003	02003 2003	Baghdad	The objective was to capture or eliminate any rebel forces seeking to capitalize on the holiday season to attack coalition forces
Operation Iron Grip	02003-12-24 December 24 2003	02003-12-31 December 31 2003, at least	Baghdad	Was designed to intensify the pressure on Saddam loyalists
Operation Choke Hold	02003-12-30 December 30 2003	02003-12-30 December 30 2003	Baghdad	To stop the influx of bomb making materials into the city

See also

• 2003 in Iraq
• List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War