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{{cleanup-bare URLs|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict= Operation Forsythe Park
|conflict= Operation Forsythe Park
|partof = the [[Iraq War]]
|date= 26 April 2007-5 May 2007
|date= 26 April - 5 May 2007
|place=[[Albu Bali]], [[Iraq]]
|place=[[Albu Bali]], [[Iraq]]
|result= Immediate relief of insurgent, Al Qaeda, and other criminal activities in the area
|result= Immediate relief of insurgent, Islamic State of Iraq, and other criminal activities in the area
|combatant1= [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|50px]] [[United States]]<br />[[Image:Flag of Iraq, 1991-2004.svg|50px]] [[Iraq|Republic of Iraq]]
|combatant1= [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|23px]] [[United States]]<br />[[Image:Flag of Iraq, 1991-2004.svg|23px]] [[Iraq|Republic of Iraq]]
|combatant2= [[Iraqi Insurgency]] <br> [[Image:Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq.svg|25px]] [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]]
|combatant2= {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Islamic State in Iraq.svg|size=23px}} [[Islamic State of Iraq]]<br> [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|Other Iraqi Insurgents]]
|commander1= Col. John Charlton
|commander1= Col. John Charlton
|commander2= Unknown
|commander2= Unknown
|strength1= 450
|strength1= 450
|strength2= Unknown
|strength2= Unknown
|casualties1= 6 Killed
|casualties1= 6 killed
|casualties2= Multiple Killed
|casualties2= Multiple killed
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Iraq War battles}}
{{Campaignbox Iraq War battles}}


A '''operation Forsythe Park''' in Albu Bali, located 15 kilometers northeast of Ramadi was completed on Wednesday 5 May 2007 in [[Ramadi]], Iraq by approx 450 Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces
An '''Operation Forsythe Park''' (also: ''Operation Forsyth Park'') in [[Albu Bali]],<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yY7UAgAAQBAJ&dq=operation+forsythe+park&pg=PA208 Michael E. Silverman: ''Awakening Victory: How Iraqi Tribes and American Troops Reclaimed Al Anbar''], Google Books</ref> located 15 kilometers northeast of [[Ramadi]], was completed on Wednesday 5 May 2007 in Ramadi, Iraq by approx 450 Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces.


==The Mission==
==Mission==
[[Al Anbar]] Provincial Security Force 2, [[Iraqi Army]] [[demolition]] experts and U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]], [[Task Force Pathfinder (with elements from the 321st Engineer Battalion and C company 397th Engineer company)]] conducted the weeks long clearing operation, targeting one of the remaining hotspots in the brigade’s area of operations. TF Pathfinder spent long hours conducting route clearance, often on mission for more than 24 hours at a time, clearing IED threats so that Provincial Security Force 2 could complete their mission.
[[Al Anbar]] Provincial Security Force 2, [[Iraqi Army]] [[demolition]] experts and U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]], Task Force Pathfinder (with elements from the [[321st Engineer Battalion (United States)|321st Engineer Battalion]] and C company 397th Engineer company) conducted the weeks long clearing operation, targeting one of the remaining hotspots in the brigade's area of operations. TF Pathfinder spent long hours conducting route clearance, often on mission for more than 24 hours at a time, clearing IED threats so that Provincial Security Force 2 could complete their mission.


Operation Forsythe Park started in the early morning hours of 26 April with multiple Coalition Soldiers being injured in the opening minutes of the Operation by IED's that had been emplaced months, even years ahead in certain areas designed to keep Coalition Forces out of the area.
Operation Forsythe Park started in the early morning hours of 26 April with multiple Coalition Soldiers being injured in the opening minutes of the Operation by IED's that had been emplaced in strategic areas such as land bridges over canals, with command executed detonations. One such firing point was traced out at over 600 meters and had to be dug out with a pick. This is a prime example of the insurgents having placed these devices months, even years in advance in certain areas designed to keep Coalition Forces out of the area.


"We had seen an increased amount of enemy activity in this region over the last three weeks", said Col. John Charlton, [[commanding officer]] for 1BCT. "Once we set the conditions and built sufficient combat power, we took the fight to the enemy and provided much needed relief to the population".
There were many acts of Valor performed by Soldiers daily that have yet to be recognized for the sacrifices they made so the Coalition Forces could complete the objective.


"During the operation, Coalition forces were attacked almost daily by rocket propelled grenades, small arms fire, IED's ranging in size from 10 pounds to 150-200 pounds of explosives. There was also the constant threat of snipers, heavy machine gun fire, and improvised rockets." Said Master Sergeant David Johnson of B Co 321st Engineer Battalion, TF Pathfinder.
“We had seen an increased amount of enemy activity in this region over the last three weeks, said Col. John Charlton, [[commanding officer]] for 1BCT. “Once we set the conditions and built sufficient combat power, we took the fight to the enemy and provided much needed relief to the population.
"We would take over for another team that had been working on clearing the roads, and we would have vehicles blown up by an IED that had been dug into the sides of the elevated roads, that left no visual clues, before we had reached the limit of advance from the previous route clearance team. Speed was a killer, 1-2 miles an hour was a good pace and the Soldiers in the lead vehicles got very good at their jobs of spotting thin copper wire, or what was referred to as a 'snail trail' in the dirt roads, or cracks in paved portions."

"During the operation, Coalition forces were attacked almost daily by rocket propelled grenades, small arms fire, IED's ranging in size from 10 pounds to 150-200 pounds of explosives. There was also the constant threat of snipers, heavy machine gun fire, and improvised rockets." Said Master Sergeant David Johnson of B Company 321st Engineer Battalion, TF Pathfinder. Call sign Wolf-37. "We would take over for another team that had been working on clearing the roads, and we would have vehicles blown up by an IED that had been dug into the sides of the elevated roads, that left no visual clues, before we had reached the limit of advance from the previous route clearance team. Speed was a killer, 1-2 miles an hour was a good pace and the Soldiers in the lead vehicles got very good at their jobs of spotting thin copper wire, or what was referred to as a 'snail trail' in the dirt roads, or cracks in paved portions."


==Result==
==Result==
The multiple day operation marks the eighth large-scale operation for the brigade this year. The police and soldiers discovered multiple weapon caches, including 28 [[improvised explosive devices]], three 14.5&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft guns, five [[mortar (weapon)|mortars]], 300 pounds of homemade [[explosive]]s, 2200 [[gallons]] of [[nitric acid]] and 200 blasting caps.

Six [[coalition]] service members, several Iraqi Soldiers and police, along with multiple insurgents were killed during the operation.
The multiple day operation marks the eighth large-scale operation for the brigade this year. The police and soldiers discovered multiple weapon caches, including 28 [[improvised explosive devices]], three 14.5&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft guns, five [[mortar (weapon)|mortars]], 300 pounds of homemade [[explosives]], 2200 [[gallons]] of [[nitric acid]] and 200 blasting caps.
Six [[coalition]] service members several Iraqi Soldiers and police, along with multiple insurgents were killed during the operation.


==Units==
==Units==
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==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Iraq}}
{{Portal|Iraq}}
*[[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]]
*[[Islamic State of Iraq]]
*[[Operation Fardh al-Qanoon]]
*[[Operation Imposing Law]]
*[[Operation Phantom Thunder]]
*[[Operation Phantom Thunder]]
*[[Operation Arrowhead Ripper]]
*[[Operation Arrowhead Ripper]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11768&Itemid=21|Press Release RELEASE No. 20070504-17 Official Website of the Multinational Force - Iraq]

[Personal mission notes from Master Sergeant David Johnson]
==External links==
* [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11768&Itemid=21|Press Release RELEASE No. 20070504-17 Official Website of the Multinational Force - Iraq]


{{Campaignbox Iraq War bombings}}
{{Campaignbox Iraq War bombings}}
{{Terrorism in Iraq}}
{{Terrorism in Iraq}}
{{War on Terrorism}}
{{War on Terrorism}}
{{Asia in topic|Terrorism in}}
{{Asia in topic|Terrorism in|IL=Timeline of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict}}
{{2007 Operations}}
{{Iraq War}}
{{Iraq War}}


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[[Category:Military operations of the Iraq War involving the United States]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Iraq War involving the United States]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Iraq War involving Iraq]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Iraq War involving Iraq]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Anbar campaign (2003–2011)]]
[[Category:April 2007 events in Iraq]]
[[Category:May 2007 events in Iraq]]

Latest revision as of 12:39, 10 September 2024

Operation Forsythe Park
Part of the Iraq War
Date26 April - 5 May 2007
Location
Result Immediate relief of insurgent, Islamic State of Iraq, and other criminal activities in the area
Belligerents
United States
Republic of Iraq
Islamic State of Iraq
Other Iraqi Insurgents
Commanders and leaders
Col. John Charlton Unknown
Strength
450 Unknown
Casualties and losses
6 killed Multiple killed

An Operation Forsythe Park (also: Operation Forsyth Park) in Albu Bali,[1] located 15 kilometers northeast of Ramadi, was completed on Wednesday 5 May 2007 in Ramadi, Iraq by approx 450 Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces.

Mission

[edit]

Al Anbar Provincial Security Force 2, Iraqi Army demolition experts and U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Task Force Pathfinder (with elements from the 321st Engineer Battalion and C company 397th Engineer company) conducted the weeks long clearing operation, targeting one of the remaining hotspots in the brigade's area of operations. TF Pathfinder spent long hours conducting route clearance, often on mission for more than 24 hours at a time, clearing IED threats so that Provincial Security Force 2 could complete their mission.

Operation Forsythe Park started in the early morning hours of 26 April with multiple Coalition Soldiers being injured in the opening minutes of the Operation by IED's that had been emplaced in strategic areas such as land bridges over canals, with command executed detonations. One such firing point was traced out at over 600 meters and had to be dug out with a pick. This is a prime example of the insurgents having placed these devices months, even years in advance in certain areas designed to keep Coalition Forces out of the area.

"We had seen an increased amount of enemy activity in this region over the last three weeks", said Col. John Charlton, commanding officer for 1BCT. "Once we set the conditions and built sufficient combat power, we took the fight to the enemy and provided much needed relief to the population".

"During the operation, Coalition forces were attacked almost daily by rocket propelled grenades, small arms fire, IED's ranging in size from 10 pounds to 150-200 pounds of explosives. There was also the constant threat of snipers, heavy machine gun fire, and improvised rockets." Said Master Sergeant David Johnson of B Co 321st Engineer Battalion, TF Pathfinder. "We would take over for another team that had been working on clearing the roads, and we would have vehicles blown up by an IED that had been dug into the sides of the elevated roads, that left no visual clues, before we had reached the limit of advance from the previous route clearance team. Speed was a killer, 1-2 miles an hour was a good pace and the Soldiers in the lead vehicles got very good at their jobs of spotting thin copper wire, or what was referred to as a 'snail trail' in the dirt roads, or cracks in paved portions."

Result

[edit]

The multiple day operation marks the eighth large-scale operation for the brigade this year. The police and soldiers discovered multiple weapon caches, including 28 improvised explosive devices, three 14.5 mm anti-aircraft guns, five mortars, 300 pounds of homemade explosives, 2200 gallons of nitric acid and 200 blasting caps. Six coalition service members, several Iraqi Soldiers and police, along with multiple insurgents were killed during the operation.

Units

[edit]
United States Units
  • 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
  • Firepower Control Team 6, Detachment F, 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
  • Task Force Pathfinder ( 321st Engineer Battalion, C/397th Engineers)
Iraq Units
  • Provincial Security Force 2, Iraqi Army
  • 7th Division Iraqi Army Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Company
  • 7th Division Iraqi Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]