Operation Desert Scorpion
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Part of The
Iraq War
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Date
| 15 June 2003 ? 29 June 2003
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Location
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Result
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Efforts to suppress growing insurgency ineffective.
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Belligerents
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United States
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Iraqi Insurgents
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Casualties and losses
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1,330 detained
[1]
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None reported on either side
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Operation Desert Scorpion
was a major U.S. operation to identify and eliminate anti-coalition forces while simultaneously delivering humanitarian aid. The area of operation was mainly in north-central
Iraq
and was conducted between 15 and 29 June 2003. The stated task and purpose of Operation Desert Scorpion was to defeat remaining enemy non-compliant forces. It was planned as a major operation supporting the first "post-hostilities"
campaign plan
which had been issued just a week prior to its inception.
Background
[
edit
]
The operation followed
Operation Peninsula Strike
, which had ended three days earlier, and was part of a U.S response to a major spike in attacks by anti-coalition forces that began in late May 2003. Operation Peninsula Strike was a 4th Infantry Division operation and was directly influenced by earlier warning orders of Operation Desert Scorpion. This operation was supported from Camp Spearhead Kuwait, by the 149th Transportation Company (POCC),
10th Transportation BN (TML)
, 7th Transportation GRP (COMP).
The operation
[
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Combined Joint Task Force 7
conducted the operation that included elements from the
3rd Infantry Division
, the
4th Infantry Division
, the
101st Airborne Division
,
1st Armored Division
, the
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
and the
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
. The scheme of maneuver was first to gain intelligence to identify those elements, or forces, in Iraq that were preventing the establishment of interim governing capability. Simultaneously, the operation was to identify those elements who were supporting governance and stability in Iraq, and identify public works projects that would enable their efforts. The operation was designed to commence with country wide operations that defeated those remaining non ? compliant forces while simultaneously providing funds and projects to those areas, and local leaders, who supported the growth of Iraqi governance and stability.
The
3rd Infantry Division
conducted five raids and detained 20. The 3ID also seized 20
anti-tank
rounds, three
AK-47s
, one
Rocket propelled grenade
and some
C4 explosives
along with
detonators
. The 3ID's humanitarian contributions to the operation included coordinating a trash collection service and removing 64 loads of trash from
Fallujah
and continued to work with the municipality to re-establish a waste collection system.
The
4th Infantry Division
conducted 43 raids in an area ranging from
Kirkuk
in the north to
Taji
in the south and initially detained 288 individuals. Sixty-five of the detained were held. The unit seized three
AK-47s
, one mortar site and one
Dragunov
night sight. The division also placed a contract for playground equipment and a retaining wall for a school in their area, assisted a general hospital with $1,000 drug and supply purchase and purchased an
ambulance
.
Soldiers from the
101st Airborne Division
conducted three raids and detained 12 individuals. The
101st Airborne Division
also worked to rebuild drainage ditches and renovating the mayor's office in
Makhmur
, along with rebuilding at kindergarten schools.
The
1st Armored Division
executed offensive actions in
Baghdad
conducting six raids and detaining 22 individuals. The unit seized nine rifles, eight pistols, three knives, two boxes of grenades, one bomb and three 127mm rounds.
The
3d Armored Cavalry Regiment
conducted 11 raids and detained 39 individuals. It also passed out school supplies to the local schools in the eastern part of Iraq.
Aftermath
[
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]
During the raids, two former Iraqi generals turned themselves in, Maj. Gen.
Abdul Ali Jasmin
, secretary of the Defense Ministry, and Brig. Gen.
Abdullah Ali Jasmin
, head of the Iraqi Military Academy and were detained for questioning. Operation Desert Scorpion also resulted in the seizure of eight million
Dollars
as well as a large sum of
British pounds
and
Euros
.
In addition to the 1,330 suspects being detained, 497 AK-47s, 235 hand grenades, 124 RPGs, 22 belt-fed machine guns, 130 pistols, 100 rifles, 8,122 rounds and ammunition were also seized.
[2]
Unfortunately, the operation did not achieve the desired effects. It was hampered initially by a failure to provide for the public works projects so critical to its success. While the Divisions' submitted a total of approximately $53 million in requirements, only some $20 million were funded. Thus, the force did not achieve its aim to publicly demonstrate commitment to rewarding those who supported stability in Iraq. As well, the force did not allow time to develop the intelligence required to find, target and then attack the leaders of local insurgent movements. However, the legacy of Operation Desert Scorpion is still seen today in operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. It has become a pattern for operations in both theaters.
Military units involved
[
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]
- US forces reported to be involved were
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
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Background
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Rationale
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Issues
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Dossiers
and memos
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Countries
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Insurgent
groups
| Sunni
groups
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Shia
groups
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Ba'ath
loyalists
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Operations
| 2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009?2011
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Battles
| 2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009?2011
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Related events
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War crimes
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Occupation forces
| Killings and
massacres
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Chemical
weapons
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Torture
and abuse
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§
Other killings
and bombings
| 2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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2011
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Other war crimes
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Prosecution
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§
All attacks listed in this group were either committed by insurgents, or have unknown perpetrators
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Impact
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General
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Political
controversies
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Reactions
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Protests
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Aftermath in Iraq
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