Operation Peninsula Strike

Operation Peninsula Strike was a series of raids conducted by American troops from 9 to 13 June 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It took place on a peninsula alongside the Tigris River near Balad, Iraq. Conducted by members of Task Force Ironhorse, US forces sought to eliminate Ba'ath Party members, paramilitary, and other subversive units. Specifically, US Forces were to hit five objectives simultaneously, detain the targets and screen them for intelligence.

The operation
Attacking from helicopters, small boats and in armored vehicles, American forces set up road blocks and began a large raid that included over one thousand soldiers who quickly captured 397 suspects. Among those who were targeted for capture were two persons on the 'Most Wanted List': Major General Abul Ali Jasmin, the former Minister of Defense, and Brigadier General Abdullah Ali Jasmin, former head of the military academy. However, none of the targets were at the objectives. Of the 397 initially detained, most were released within days of the operation.

On the last day of the operation, a force of Iraqi insurgents attacked a patrol from the 4th Infantry Division, which was involved in the operation. The insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades at the 4th Infantry Division tank patrol. The tanks returned fire, killing four attackers and forcing the others to flee. Later, backed by Apache helicopters, the U.S. forces pursued the remaining attackers, killing another 23.

Units involved
Included elements of the:
 * 3d Brigade, U.S. 4th Infantry Division
 * 173d Airborne Brigade
 * 3d Squadron, U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
 * 1st Battalion, U.S. 8th Infantry Regiment
 * 720th Military Police Battalion
 * 57th Aviation Battalion
 * 159th Aviation Battalion
 * 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment
 * elements from 104th Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. 4th Infantry Division
 * elements from 519th Military Intelligence Battalion