Task Force Iron – the multinational division responsible for operations north of Baghdad – launched another operation involving four U.S. brigade combat teams and three different Iraqi Army divisions across the northern provinces of Iraq, Nov 27. The purpose of Operation Iron Reaper is to continue the pursuit of al-Qaeda and set the conditions for continued reconciliation efforts in key northern provinces.
Task Force IronÂ’s previous division-level operation, Operation Iron Hammer, began the process of improving security in the north and set in motion reconciliation efforts. The reconciliation paved the way for the signing of 6,000 Concerned Local Citizens.
Iron Reaper should create similar results for the security of residents in northern Iraq.
Within the first three days of the operation, often working off of tips from local citizens across northern Iraq, Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces discovered and destroyed several weapons caches. These caches included more than 850 mortars of various sizes with several tubes for launching.
In addition to mortars, the caches contained more than 70 various rockets. The rockets are used to attack CF and ISF convoys or the explosives inside could be used in making improvised explosive devices. The caches contained several other explosive materials for making IEDs including more than 15 blocks of C4, 30 TNT sticks, 50 pounds of homemade explosives and a 200-pound AH-3 Chinese practice bomb along with wire, timing devices and IED-making instruction manuals. The caches also included about a dozen explosively formed projectiles, which are used in IEDs to pierce armored vehicles.