For the battle in 2017 involving ISIL, see Battle of Al-Qa'im (2017).
The Battle of Al-Qa'im (code-named Operation Matador) was a military offensive conducted by the United States Marine Corps, against insurgent positions in Iraq's northwestern Anbar province, which ran from 8 May 2005 to 19 May 2005. It was focused on eliminating insurgents and foreign fighters in a region known as a smuggling route and a sanctuary for foreign fighters.[3]
In mid-May 2005, Task Force 3/2 and elements of Task Force 3/25 (3rd Battalion/2nd Marines, 3rd Battalion/25th Marines, 4th Assault Amphibian Bn, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn,B Co 4th Combat Engineer Bn, 2nd Platoon A Co 1st Tank Bn, and a detachment of H-1's from HMLA 269 ) supported by the 163rd Ordnance, conducted a sweep of an insurgent-held area near the Syrian border. 814th Engineer Company (MRB) led the initial offensive; breaching the river obstacle with a floating bridge while conducting concurrent rafting. It lasted eleven days, during which the U.S. troops killed more than 125 suspected insurgents and captured 39 others. The Marines captured and destroyed many weapon caches and suffered 9 killed in action and 40 wounded in action. Notable among these casualties was a squad from 1st Platoon, Lima Company 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines which had all of its members killed or wounded, mostly while embarked in an AAV that was struck by an IED.[4]
Many of the insurgents encountered were not wearing uniforms, and in some cases were wearing protective vests. Furthermore, coalition officials noted that the training, tactics and organization displayed by the insurgents battled in the Syrian desert exceeded that which had been seen in other engagements further east, with only the exception of the former members of the Fedayeen (that comprised a large portion of insurgents fought by the Coalition in Operation Vigilant Resolve.) Thus it is plausible to believe that the Fedayeen made a large portion of the insurgents fought in Matador.
Additionally, the Marines in Matador did not have sufficient numbers to set up a permanent garrison in Al-Qa'im and the other insurgent held towns and withdrew as a result. Consequently, as soon as they left guerilla fighters were back in the towns and reestablished control over the town.[5] Insurgents' continued presence in the Syrian desert meant that the Syrian border would remain a viable route for smuggling military equipment used by the insurgency. The engagement could loosely be described as a running battle, with the heaviest fighting taking place in urban environments located in Ubaydi, Arabi, and Al-Qa'im, all are cities in the insurgent dominated Al Anbar Governorate.[6] It was followed by Operation Squeeze Play.
^Knickmeyer, Ellen* (11 May 2005). . The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2006.
^Knickmeyer, Ellen (16 May 2005). . The Newshour. PBS. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2006.
^Knickmeyer, Ellen (15 May 2005). "Looking for Battle, Marines Find That Foes Have Fled-Hunt for Foreign Insurgents Proves Frustrating but Deadly". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 July 2006.
*Ellen Knickmeyer is the Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post and an embedded reporter in Iraq.
References
Miles, Donna (10 May 2005). . DefenseLINK News. U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
External links
Knarr, William. Al-Sahawa: An Awakening in Al Qaim
Flower, Kevin; Dulami, Enes; Kianne Sadeq (14 May 2005). "Hunt for insurgents near Syria ends, More than 125 insurgents, nine Marines dead". CNN. from the original on 18 June 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
January 04, 2023
battle, 2005, battle, 2017, involving, isil, battle, 2017, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, battle, 2. For the battle in 2017 involving ISIL see Battle of Al Qa im 2017 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Battle of Al Qa im 2005 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Battle of Al Qa im code named Operation Matador was a military offensive conducted by the United States Marine Corps against insurgent positions in Iraq s northwestern Anbar province which ran from 8 May 2005 to 19 May 2005 It was focused on eliminating insurgents and foreign fighters in a region known as a smuggling route and a sanctuary for foreign fighters 3 Operation Matador Iraq Part of the Iraq WarA large weapons cache in New Ubaydi is destroyedDate8 May 2005 19 May 2005LocationUbaydi near Al Qa im Al Anbar34 13 12 N 41 03 14 E 34 2200 N 41 0539 E 34 2200 41 0539 Coordinates 34 13 12 N 41 03 14 E 34 2200 N 41 0539 E 34 2200 41 0539ResultU S Tactical VictoryBelligerents United StatesAl Qaeda in Iraq 1 Other insurgentsCommanders and leadersCol S W Davis citation needed Sulaiman Khalid Darwaish citation needed Strength1 000UnknownCasualties and losses9 killed40 wounded 2 125 insurgents killed Contents 1 Details 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDetails EditIn mid May 2005 Task Force 3 2 and elements of Task Force 3 25 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines 3rd Battalion 25th Marines 4th Assault Amphibian Bn 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn B Co 4th Combat Engineer Bn 2nd Platoon A Co 1st Tank Bn and a detachment of H 1 s from HMLA 269 supported by the 163rd Ordnance conducted a sweep of an insurgent held area near the Syrian border 814th Engineer Company MRB led the initial offensive breaching the river obstacle with a floating bridge while conducting concurrent rafting It lasted eleven days during which the U S troops killed more than 125 suspected insurgents and captured 39 others The Marines captured and destroyed many weapon caches and suffered 9 killed in action and 40 wounded in action Notable among these casualties was a squad from 1st Platoon Lima Company 3rd Battalion 25th Marines which had all of its members killed or wounded mostly while embarked in an AAV that was struck by an IED 4 Many of the insurgents encountered were not wearing uniforms and in some cases were wearing protective vests Furthermore coalition officials noted that the training tactics and organization displayed by the insurgents battled in the Syrian desert exceeded that which had been seen in other engagements further east with only the exception of the former members of the Fedayeen that comprised a large portion of insurgents fought by the Coalition in Operation Vigilant Resolve Thus it is plausible to believe that the Fedayeen made a large portion of the insurgents fought in Matador Additionally the Marines in Matador did not have sufficient numbers to set up a permanent garrison in Al Qa im and the other insurgent held towns and withdrew as a result Consequently as soon as they left guerilla fighters were back in the towns and reestablished control over the town 5 Insurgents continued presence in the Syrian desert meant that the Syrian border would remain a viable route for smuggling military equipment used by the insurgency The engagement could loosely be described as a running battle with the heaviest fighting taking place in urban environments located in Ubaydi Arabi and Al Qa im all are cities in the insurgent dominated Al Anbar Governorate 6 It was followed by Operation Squeeze Play See also Edit Iraq portal2005 in Iraq Post invasion Iraq 2003 present Iraqi insurgency Al Anbar Governorate Syrian DesertNotes Edit Schlosser Dr Nicholas J U S Marines in Battle Al Qaim September 2005 March 2006 Illustrated Edition Tannenberg Publishing 2014 Period Details Archived 13 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine Miles 10 May 2005 Knickmeyer Ellen 11 May 2005 Demise of a hard fighting squad Marines who survived ambush are killed wounded in blast The Washington Post Archived from the original on 14 May 2005 Retrieved 6 July 2006 Knickmeyer Ellen 16 May 2005 Military Offensive in Iraq Iraq The Newshour PBS Archived from the original on 15 January 2014 Retrieved 6 July 2006 Knickmeyer Ellen 15 May 2005 Looking for Battle Marines Find That Foes Have Fled Hunt for Foreign Insurgents Proves Frustrating but Deadly The Washington Post Retrieved 6 July 2006 Ellen Knickmeyer is the Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post and an embedded reporter in Iraq References EditMiles Donna 10 May 2005 Operation Matador Helping Flush Insurgents From Western Iraq DefenseLINK News U S Department of Defense Archived from the original on 14 April 2012 Retrieved 17 July 2006 External links EditKnarr William Al Sahawa An Awakening in Al Qaim Flower Kevin Dulami Enes Kianne Sadeq 14 May 2005 Hunt for insurgents near Syria ends More than 125 insurgents nine Marines dead CNN Archived from the original on 18 June 2006 Retrieved 17 July 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Al Qa 27im 2005 amp oldid 1102704579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
