Operation Steel Curtain

Operation Steel Curtain
Part of the Iraq War
U.S. Marine Lcpl. Raphael Hernandez, and Iraqi Army soldiers watch over the surrounding streets from a rooftop in Karabilah, Iraq, during Operation Steel Curtain on November 11, 2005.
Date November 5, 2005–November 22, 2005 Location Husaybah, Karabilah, Ubaydi, Iraq Result U.S. tactical victory
Belligerents
United States New Iraqi Army	Iraqi insurgents al-Qaeda in Iraq
Commanders and leaders
Col. J.D. Alford (3/6) Col. S.W. Davis (RCT-2)	Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Casualties and losses
10 killed, 30 wounded	139 insurgents killed, 256 captured
54 civilians killed

Operation Steel Curtain (Arabic: الحجاب الفولاذي Al Hejab Elfulathi) was a military endeavor executed by coalition forces in early November 2005 to reduce the flow of foreign insurgents crossing the border and joining the Iraqi insurgency. The operation was important in that it was the first large scale deployment of the New Iraqi Army. This offensive was part of the larger Operation Sayeed (Hunter), designed to prevent al Qaeda in Iraq from operating in the Euphrates River Valley and throughout Al Anbar and to establish a permanent Iraqi Army presence in the Al Qa’im region.

The Operation

On November 5, Marines from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines of the United States Marine Corps began their assault on insurgent-held Karabilah, and had cleared the city four days later. Then on November 5 the coalition forces began to attack the city of Husaybah and pursue any insurgents who fled Karabilah. After four more days of fighting in Husaybah, the coalition troops launched another phase of the operation into the city of Ubaydi, an insurgent haven and site of the earlier Operation Matador. The fortified city fell to coalition forces after seven days of fighting, bringing a conclusion to Operation Steel Curtain. The assault on Sadah and a small portion of Karabilah was known as "Operation: Iron Fist". The assault of Husaybah and Karabilah was "Operation: Steel Curtain". So named because the resident leader of anti-coalition forces, al-Zarqawi, said they would hold onto Husaybah with an "iron fist". Named by Coalition Commanders, "Operation Steel Curtain", was a hardened sweep and clear mission hence "steel curtain" because American and New Iraqi Army flooded the two cities, and closed and secured the objective like a curtain made of steel.

Aftermath

U.S. officials reported that the operation killed 139 insurgents and took 256 more prisoners, and considered it successful. Battle positions were constructed, preventing the insurgency from regaining control of the city. At least 10 U.S. Marines and an unknown number of Iraqi soldiers died. There were 60 civilians killed, among those there were 10 children.

External links

• CNN report on offensive
• Cafe-Syria report
• Marine Corps News
• Battle plan
• Multinatinal force Iraq
• Video of firefight from US position