Battle of Samarra (2004)
Battle of Samara | |||||||
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Part of the Golden Mosque during the battle of Samarra, 1 October 2004. | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
loyalists[1] |
United States Iraq | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Haitham Shaker Badri Najam Takhi Nisani Hammadi Takhi Nisani Rafiq Rahmani Hadi Hussein Kaj Zaidan Mohammad Haji Hazim Mohammad Haji Husain Ali Muzaibar Ibrahim Abbas Harbouni Alaa Ibrahim Abbas |
Lieutenant Colonel Fadhil Barwari | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Unknown |
202nd Iraqi National Guard Battalion Iraqi 36th Commando Battalion | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
500-1,000 insurgents[2] |
security forces | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
127 killed 60 wounded 128 captured[3][4] |
1 killed [5] 4 killed | ||||||
20 civilians killed 61 civilians wounded[3] |
The Battle of Samarra, also called Operation Baton Rouge, took place in 2004 during the Iraq War. The city of Samarra in central Iraq had fallen under the control of insurgents shortly after insurgents had seized control of Fallujah and Ramadi. In preparation for an offensive to retake Fallujah, on 1 October, 5,000 American and Iraqi troops assaulted Samarra and secured the city after three days of fighting.
Losing control
During the month of September, negotiations with local commanders produced a city council which was to govern the city. However, insurgents soon seized control and the agreement fell apart. The city government was infiltrated by insurgents and the city came under the control of the Iraqi insurgency. Fighters loyal to the insurgents, including but not particularly Abu Musab Zarqawi, roamed the streets, confiscating music
Battle
On the morning of 1 October, the
That same day, American troops with 1-26th INF along with 1-14 INF secured the main bridge across the
American and Iraqi forces were supported by
Around 90 weapons caches were captured during the course of the operation.[6]
Aftermath
After the battle, American forces began a program to provide security, build up the local police forces, and spent tens of millions of dollars on public works projects and hospitals.
Notes
- ISBN 978-1494406479
- ^ a b John Pike. "Operation Baton Rouge". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Showdown in Samarra". Fox News. 11 October 2004. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ "The U.S. Army Professional Writing Collection". Archived from the original on 8 September 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
- ^ "ICasualties: Iraq Coalition Casualty Count - Deaths by Year and Month". Archived from the original on 12 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
- ^ a b c The fight for Samarra: full-spectrum operations in modern warfare - Military Review
- ^ Ware, Michael (3 October 2004). "Appointment in Samarra". Time. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ "Defense.gov News Article: U.S., Iraqi Troops Strike Samarra Insurgents". defenselink.mil. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- ^ "U.S.: 109 insurgents killed in major offensive". Archived from the original on 11 May 2008.
External links
- Battle for Samarra Part 1 on YouTube
- Battle for Samarra Part 2 on YouTube