Operation Panther Squeeze

At 2:00 AM, on 10 December 2003, paratroopers from 3rd Brigade, 82d Airborne Division with the assistance of Iraqi police conducted Operation Panther Squeeze.

Operation Details
Operation Panther Squeeze was a series of 18 raids in Lutafiyah to kill or capture individuals believed to be responsible for the attack against Spanish forces on 29 Nov, according to U.S. Central Command officials. The cooperation efforts between the coalition forces and Iraqi police contributed to the great success of this operation.

During the raids, 15 primary targets were captured with a total of 41 enemy personnel taken for questioning. Those captured included the cell leader Abu Abdullah, an intelligence officer, financier, and a doctor who treated terrorists so they can avoid treatment at local hospitals, and the actual attackers.

A vehicle was also confiscated that may have been used in the recent assassination of the Lutafiyah police chief. Since 29 November, we have been able to gather a significant amount of human intelligence in Lutafiyah.

American Units

 * 3rd Brigade, 82d Airborne Division
 * 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division

Iraqi Units

 * Iraqi Police