During Post-invasion Iraq, Operation Iron Saber was a coalition strike aimed at defeating the Mahdi Army under the control of Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf, Diwaniyah, Al Kut and Karbala.[4] The major American unit involved was the 37th Armor Regiment of 1st Armored Division.[3] The operation was launched in April 2004, and after intense urban warfare which involved Mahdi militiamen taking refuge in mosques, coalition forces had defeated the Mahdi army by June and had forced a cease-fire with al-Sadr.[2]
| Operation Iron Saber | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the 2004 Spring Fighting of Iraq War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Poland Bulgaria[1] New Iraqi Army |
 Mahdi Army | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Mark Hertling Lt. Col. Gary Bishop Serhiy Ostrovskyi |
Muqtada al-Sadr | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
2,500+[3] | 1,500–2,900 (April)[3] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
3 killed 1 killed 20 killed[3] |
7,000 killed 20 captured (per 1st Armored Division)[4][3] | ||||||
References
edit- ^ "Power of Brotherhood". www.polska-zbrojna.pl. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Army unit claims victory over sheik". www.washingtontimes.com. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Edward Wong (5 May 2004). "U.S. Begins First Major Assault on Iraqi Militia Led by Cleric". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Operation Iron Saber". www.globalsecurity.org. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
External links
edit- First Major Assault on Iraqi Militia Led by Cleric
- Army unit claims victory over sheik
- Operation Iron Saber
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