List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War in 2004

During the early occupation, a number of widely cited humanitarian, tactical, and political errors by coalition planners, particularly the United States and United Kingdom led to a growing armed resistance, usually called the "Iraqi insurgency" (referred to by the mainstream media and coalition governments). The anti-occupation/anti-coalition forces are believed to be predominantly, but not exclusively, Iraqi Sunni Muslim Arabs, plus some foreign Arab and Muslim fighters, some of the latter tied to al-Qaeda. Several minor coalition members have pulled out of Iraq; this has been widely considered a political success for the anti-occupation forces.
Despite this, there was a reduction in violence throughout Iraq in the start of 2004 due to reorganization within the insurgent forces. During this time the tactics used by coalition forces were studied and the insurgency began to plan a new strategy. The calm did not last long however and once the insurgency had regained its footing attacks resumed and increased. Throughout the remainder of 2004 and continuing into the present day, the insurgency has employed bombings as their primary means of combating the coalition forces. This has led to hundreds of Iraqi civilians and police killed in addition to the coalition forces they were fighting. Many were killed in a series of massive bombings at mosques and shrines throughout Iraq. The bombings indicated that as the relevance of Saddam Hussein and his followers was diminishing, radical Islamists, both foreign and Iraqi was increasing to take their place. An organized Sunni insurgency, with deep roots and both nationalist and Islamist motivations, was becoming clear. The Mahdi Army also began launching attacks on coalition targets and to seize control from the Iraqi security forces. The southern and central portions of Iraq began to erupt in urban guerilla combat as coalition forces attempted to keep control and prepared for a counteroffensive.
In response to insurgent attacks, coalition forces focused on hunting down the remaining leaders of the former regime, culminating in the shooting deaths of Saddam's two sons in July. In all, over 200 top leaders of the former regime were killed or captured, as well as supports and military personnel during the summer of 2004.
==2004 military operations==
Battle/Operation name 	From date	To date	Location 	Purpose and result
Operation Gimlet Victory 	 	 	 	
Operation Hickory View 	 	 	 	Helped eliminate many of the established indirect fire patterns, which insurgents had used
Operation I CAN 	 	 	throughout Iraq 	Soldiers distributed over 100 boxes of donated school supplies and toys to Iraqi children.
Operation Iron Fury II 	 	 	Sadr City 	Continued missions to drive the Mahdi Army out of the city
Operation Lancer Lightning 	 	 	 	
Operation Windy City 	 	 	Baghdad 	Gave blankets to distribute to the local population
Operation Warhorse Whirlwind 	 	 	Abu Kharma 	Captured 31 individuals, including eight people who were specifically targeted for suspected involvement in anti-Coalition activity
Operation Iron Resolve 	 	 	Baghdad 	Was intended to disrupt the terrorist networks with constant searches and raids by coalition forces
Operation Clothes for Kids 	 	 	Taji 	An effort to bring clothing to needy Iraqi children
Operation Market Sweep 	 	 	Fallujah 	The successful raid into the downtown Fallujah arms market
Operation Saloon 	 	 	the Al-Anbar province 	Captured a high-ranking former Iraqi Officer, General Mamoud Khudair Younes
Operation Centaur Fast Gas 	 	 	Ba’qubah 	Provide security for the gas station, help manage the lines in order to facilitate maximum efficiency of the gas station, and prevent unauthorized gas pilferage
Operation Rock Slide 	 	 	the Al-Anbar province 	Captured a high-ranking former Iraqi officer Brig. Gen. Kalil Ibraham Fayal al-Dulaymi
Operation Wolfhound Trap II 	 	 	Heychel 	
Operation Wolfhound Fury II 	 	 	Heychel and its surrounding villages 	Hunted down suspected terrorists and provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to the Iraqi people
Operation Wolverine Feast 	 	 	the Al-Doura district 	Coalition and Iraqi Army soldiers detained 10 suspects and seized four caches
Operation Final Cut 	 	 	Bayji 	Was designed to capture or eliminate people suspected of insurgent activity
Operation Saber Turner II 	 	 	 	
Operation Tomahawk (Iraq) 	 	 	 	
Operation Trailblazer 	 	Ongoing	Baqubah 	An effort to make Iraqi roads safer for fellow soldiers. The beginning of this operation was conducted by the 14th Engineer Battalion (C)(W) and the 244th Engineers out of Colorado. This Operation was taken over by the 141st Engineer Combat Battalion (C)(W), a North Dakota National Guard unit. Their mission was to patrol a section of Iraq's main highways and alternate routes locating and clearing bombs. The secondary goal of this mission was route sanitation which included knocking down trees in the medians of the roads and clearing brush from the sides of the road where the enemy could easily hide a bomb. In January 2005, the 141st Engineers were replaced by the 467th Engineer Battalion (C)(W), a USAR unit from Tennessee. The 14th Engineer Battalion returned to Iraq and relieved the 467th Engineers of the Trailblazer mission in December 2005. Alpha Company, 164th Engineers from North Dakota took over operations from the 467th Engineers in the LSA Anaconda/Balad area around the same time. In October 2006, the 14th Engineers were replaced by the 1st Engineer Battalion.
Operation Eagle Liberty 3 	 	 	Bilad 	Targeted individuals who were suspected of attacking forward operating bases in the area. 16 targets and 3 enemy personnel were detained
Operation Devil Clinch 	 	 	Baghdad 	Was designed as a series of raids to capture suspected insurgents
Operation Rocketman 	 	 	the town of Siniyah 	Three Iraqis suspected of attacks on coalition forces were arrested
Operation Aloha 	 	 	Kirkuk 	American anti-insurgent sweep. Elements of the 25th Infantry Division surrounded an area in late March 2004 and sent patrols to conduct searches for weapons. The troopers knocked on doors to ask permission to search. This was a change from earlier more-aggressive techniques. The name of the operation is a traditional Hawaiian greeting. The 25th Infantry Division has long been based in that state.
Operation Centaur Rodeo 	 	 	Baqubah 	Designed to slow the smuggling of illegal weapons in Baqubah's Diyala Governorate capital. As of 30 March 2004 coalition forces had seized 3 people and several weapons.
Operation Devil Thrust 	 	 	 	The operation consists of three phases. The first phase is surveillance and reconnaissance, the 2nd was combat operations and the 3rd was stabiliztion
Operation Soccor Ball 	 	 	Baghdad, Karadah district 	Gave away 150 soccer balls to local children
Operation Warrior 	 	 	 	Was a cordon and search operation conducted by coalition forces designed to capture Farhan and Sofi Sinjar, Abu Akmed, and Abu Farka.
Operation Shillelagh 	 	 	Abu Ghurayb 	Seven wanted individuals were found and detained during a sweep of more than 700 houses. See Also Operation Iron Promise.
Operation Suicide Kings 	 	 	Baghdad 	A combined cordon and search operation involving U.S. and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps Soldiers
Operation Iron Promise 	 	 	Baghdad 	Part of an ongoing campaign to bring stabilization and security to the country and people of Iraq. Was a long-running series of patrols conducted by elements of the 1st Armored and 1st Cavalry Divisions. The operation continued until at least November 2004 when it was still being mentioned in newspaper reports. The name is derived from the "Old Ironsides" nickname of the 1st Armored Division.
Operation Duke Fortitude 	 	 	Fallujah 	The operation was designed to capture or kill elements of the Mahdi army and Muqtada Al-Sadr
Operation Iron Saber 	 	 	Najaf, Al Kut and Karbala 	Was a coalition strike aimed at defeating the Mahdi army under the control of Muqtada al-Sadr
Operation Lancer Fury 	 	 	Baghdad, Sadr City 	Was one of many operations initiated in hopes of disarming and disbanding militia forces
Battle of Fallujah(2004) 	 	 	Fallujah 	(See Operation Vigilant Resolve)
Operation Vigilant Resolve 	 	 	Fallujah 	First American attempt to capture Fallujah.
Battle of Ramadi (2004) 	 	 	Ramadi 	An estimated 250 rebels were killed in fighting that shattered the insurgent offensive
Operation Resolute Sword 	 	 	 	Was a military operation taken by the United States' armed forces to capture Muqtada al-Sadr. (April 10 President's Radio Address Mention)
Operation Danger Fortitude 	 	 	Najaf, about 20 km northwest of 	was designed establish and occupy FOB Duke
Operation Ripper Sweep 	 	 	Fallujah 	The operation aimed at securing roads into and out of the city. Was a United States Marine Corps operation that took place as Operation Vigilant Resolve raged in Fallujah. The operation aimed at securing roads into and out of Fallujah and was led by the 7th Marine Regiment. The Marines swept west to east from Al Asad and seized a large number of bombs.
Battle of Husaybah 	 	 	Husaybah 	Five Marines were killed along with 150 insurgents in the fierce battle that lasted 14 hours. Another 9 Marines were wounded and 20 insurgents captured.
Operation Yellow Stone 	 	 	Al-Rashida, the former presidential island retreat 	To secure the area and remove the enemy from the island
Operation Rapier Thrust 	 	 	 	
Operation Spring Cleanup 	 	 	Baqouba 	Designed to take control of a stretch of road known as the Blue Babe Highway and included the U.S. 3rd Brigade Combat Teams. The area was also known as "RPG Alley" for the large number of roadside bombings and insurgent attacks that occurred there.
Operation Thunderstruck 	 	 	 	
Operation Striker Hurricane 	 	 	Baghdad 	To round up insurgents and other anti-coalition parties
Operation Wolfpack Crunch 	 	 	Diwaniya 	The mission’s target was a series of buildings, located near an old downtown theater, which were reportedly being used by members of the “Muqtada’s Militia” to plan and stage attacks against Coalition forces
Operation Arrowhead Strike 10 	 	 	Baghdad, the southwestern Rashid District 	To rid the Rashid District of terrorists and criminals and to protect the population
Operation Student to Student 	 	 	Al-Baruddi 	Gave the soldiers and the local populace an opportunity to establish the relationships that are so critical to the building of a sovereign Iraq
Operation Disarm 	 	 	Baghdad 	The program used funds earmarked for tips leading to the capture of insurgents or illegal weapons and offers up to $500 per weapon, depending on type. Included in the final tally were more than 80 AK-47 rifles, mortars, mines and grenades.
Operation Diyala Border Police Audit	 	 	Muntheria 	To verify the accuracy and legitimacy of the Diyala Border Polices’ financial and payroll records just northeast of Kanaqan
Operation Giuliani 	 	 	Mosul 	Was designed to seize weapons and munitions to prevent them from being used against coalition forces
Operation Slim Shady 	 	 	Kirkuk 	Was designed to cripple the resources of Muqtada al-Sadr's militia. The 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division of the United States Military launched the operation, which was designed to cripple the resources of the then powerful rebel forces of Muqtada al-Sadr. The operation began in the first week of June 2004. Six individuals were captured, five of which were cell leaders in the Mahdi army. One of the insurgents captured was As'ad Abu Aws. As'ad Abu Aws was the second in command of the militia's Kirkuck operations. The name of the operation was taken from popular rapper Eminem's (real name Marshall Mathers) fictional alter-ego Slim Shady. Press Release
Operation Striker Tornado 	 	 	Baghdad 	Was designed to allow the 1st Armored Division to execute near-simultaneous raids on specified targets wanted for anti-coalition activities
Operation Rocketman III 	 	 	 	Designed to search and secure enemy personnel as well as those suspected of harboring insurgents and weapons.
Operation Dragon Victory 	 	 	Najaf 	Support and counterinsurgency: Was designed to provide relief in place of the 2nd Armored Cavalry and to provide logistical support for Task Force Danger and continue to sustain combat operations.
Operation Gimlet Crusader 	 	 	Kirkuk 	Was aimed at disrupting insurgents and their attacks on multinational forces
Operation Gimlet Silent Sniper 	 	 	Kirkuk 	Engaged in multiple searches and raids looking to capture or kill cell leaders
Operation Haifa Street 	 	 	Baghdad 	Was specifically designed as a large raid focused on criminals and criminal activity in Baghdad
Operation Oasis 	 	 	Baghdad 	The overall project to improve electricity, sewers, water and other essential services around the city.
Operation Outlaw Destroyer 	 	 	Tikrit 	Was designed to prevent insurgents from gaining weapons and munitions from known ammunition storage points
Operation Mutual Security 	 	 	Mosul 	Was designed as a sweeping house-to-house search for weapons and terrorists to be conducted by only Iraqi forces
Operation Tombstone Piledriver 	 	 	Baghdad 	The operation netted six individuals who were detained for questioning.
Operation Mayfield III 	 	 	 	
Operation Cobra Sweep 	 	 	Baghdad, in the Hay Muthana district 	Was designed to cordon, search, and seize bomb makers, materials and potential storage places
Operation Quarterhorse Rides 	 	 	Ad Duluiyah 	To increase security and deter enemy attacks
Operation Warrior Resolve 	 	 	the At Tamin and As Sulaymaniyah provinces 	Was a massive synchronized effort which attempted to deter insurgent forces
Operation Tiger Care 	 	 	Balad General Hospital 	To assist the local hospital by procuring and delivering much needed medical supplies
Operation Phantom Linebacker 	 	 	along the Syrian border 	Security Operations along the Syrian border.
Operation Vanguard Thunder 	 	 	Baghdad 	Targeted 150–200 terrorist suspects. No injuries or damages were reported
Battle of Najaf (2004) 	 	 	Najaf 	Was a battle that was fought between U.S. and Iraqi forces, and the Islamist Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr
CIMIC-House 	 	 	Al Amarah 	Was a siege fought between UK forces, and the Islamist Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr. An estimated 200+ insurgents were killed.
Operation Cajun Mousetrap II 	 	 	Samarra 	Some small arms were found and at least three rebels were killed while nine people were detained and transferred for further questioning.
Operation Cajun Mousetrap III 	 	 	Samarra 	Troops utilized targeted raids against enemy personnel who were destabilizing the city and an estimated 45 insurgents were killed.
Operation Iron Fury 	 	 	Baghdad 	An "all-out effort" to stop violence in the Baghdad area by militia headed up by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr
Operation Showdown 	 	 	Ar Ramadi 	To search for weapons caches and terrorists
Operation Wolverine 	 	 	Ad Duluiyah 	Was designed to prevent organized insurgent force activities as well as deny AIF sanctuary
Operation Grizzly Forced Entry 	 	 	Najaf 	Was designed as a search and seizure operation of high value targets suspected of attacking coalition forces
Operation Clean Sweep 	 	 	Baghdad, southern portion 	Raided 350 houses and detained 49 suspects
Operation True Grit 	 	 	Ramadi 	During the operation, Multi-National Forces and SSF searched several houses and 17 insurgents were detained, four of which were found setting up an ambush on top of one of the houses
Operation Hurricane 	 	 	Ramadi 	Resulted in the detention of four suspected insurgents, the removal of 6 bombs and the confiscation of bomb making materials, including cell phone parts
Operation Black Typhoon 	 	 	Tal Afar 	All the enemy insurgents had either been killed or fled the city
Operation Hurricane II 	 	 	Ramadi 	To disrupt the Daham terrorist network and to discover and remove illegal weapons and ammunition caches in the city.
Operation Iron Fist II 	 	 	Ramadi 	A top priority in the operation was to detain or eliminate Moktada al-Sadr's lieutenants
Operation Longhorn 	 	 	Ramadi 	A coordinated effort to detain insurgent Forces and remove illegal weapons and ammunition caches
Operation Marne 	 	 	Ramadi 	A coordinated effort to detain insurgent Forces and remove illegal weapons and ammunition caches
Operation Predator 	 	 	Ramadi 	A coordinated effort to detain Anti-Iraqi Forces and remove illegal weapons and ammunition caches
Operation Backpack 	 	 	Baqubah 	Taking 200 backpacks filled with school supplies to school children
Operation Mustang Flex 	 	 	Tikrit 	Counterinsurgency and humanitarian: Deny insurgents sanctuary, promote the Tikrit Job Corps program, and assess essential services.
Operation Ramadan Roundup 	 	 	Tikrit 	Resulted in the capture of 30 insurgents, more than 60 weapons, and Improvised Explosive Device making materials.
Operation Tangerine Pinch 	 	 	Tikrit 	Deny insurgents sanctuary, promote the Tikrit Job Corps program, and assess essential services.
Operation Wolfhound Fury 	 	 	Hegneh 	A Task Force 1–27 air assault mission
Operation Bulldog 	 	 	Ar-Ramadi 	Was designed to re-establish peace and stability by denying sanctuary to insurgents, capturing enemy personnel, and seize any weapons caches
Operation Centaur Strike II 	 	 	Baqubah 	Was designed to seize insurgent equipment caches in hopes of disrupting terrorist activity before the Ramadan.
Operation Centaur Strike III 	 	 	Baqubah 	Was designed to seize insurgent equipment caches in hopes of disrupting terrorist activity before the Ramadan.
Operation Mandarin Squeeze 	 	 	Tikrit 	Its purpose was threefold; deny insurgents sanctuary, promote the Tikrit job corps program, and assess essential services.
Operation Mustang Socko 	 	 	along the Tigris River 	Detained several suspects and found several weapons caches
Operation Tiger Cub 	 	 	Baghdad 	To improve the school supply and education system throughout the greater Balad area
Operation Tangerine Squeeze 	 	 	Tikrit 	Called for a complete search of more than 300 homes
Operation Crayon 	 	 	Kirkuk 	Was a charitable program that provided schools the pencils, crayons, papers and other materials necessary to teach children
Operation Duliyah Sunrise 	 	 	Ad Duluiyah 	A raid on an upscale neighborhood to search for insurgent materials
Operation Dallas 	 	 	Mosul 	Was designed to increase security by performing cordon and knocks throughout the community
Operation Tiger Fury 	 	 	east of Balad 	Was designed to stop insurgent activities and capture individuals suspected of being insurgents
Operation Army Santa 	 	 	 	Humanitarian:
Operation Duke Fury 	 	 	Fallujah 	To search for weapons caches and suspected insurgents
Operation New Dawn (Al Fajr) 	 	 	Fallujah 	To search for weapons caches and suspected insurgents
Operation Phantom Fury 	 	 	Fallujah 	Joint American/Iraqi assault on Fallujah. See also Operation Dawn (Al-Fajr) and 2nd Battle of Fallujah
Operation Dawn (Al Fajr) 	 	 	Fallujah 	The elimination of Fallujah as a terrorist safe haven
Battle of Mosul 	 	 	Mosul 	Was a battle fought during the Iraq War in 2004 for the capital of the Ninawa Governorate in northern Iraq that occurred concurrently to fighting in Fallujah.
Operation Wolfhound Power 	 	 	Hawja 	To root insurgents out of the city
Operation Wolfhound Jab 	 	 	Tall Suseus and Rubaydhah 	No one was detained and no weapon caches were found although reports were that the area contained insurgent sanctuaries
Operation Rock Bottom 	 	 	 	The searches netted numerous small arms, 10 detainees and three rockets
Operation Plymouth Rock 	 	 	Baghdad, South of 	Sweep south of Baghdad.
Operation Tobruk 	 	 	a village along the Euphrates river 8 km Northeast of Camp Dogwood	A search of the village for insurgents and Saddam loyalists
Operation Wonderland 	 	 	Ramadi 	Netted 29 detainees and multiple weapons caches
Operation Baton Rouge 	 	 	Samarra 	The operation resulted in about 125 rebels killed and 88 were being detained
Operation Falcon Freedom 	 	 	Al Rashid District 	A joint U.S.-Iraqi cordon-and-search operation were several weapons caches were discovered
Operation Soprano Sunset 	 	 	Baghdad, eastern portion 	Captured several suspected senior level transnational terrorists, including key leaders, operatives, and financiers
Operation Iraqi Children 	 	 	Baqubah 	Soldiers delivered school supplies
Operation Backbreaker 	 	 	Buhriz 	A project to fortify a new police station as well as the Governor’s mansion just down the road
Operation Lion Cub 	 	 	Tikrit 	To deliver a load of toys to the children of the villages of Al Alam, Al Owja and Wynott
Operation Powder River 	 	 	Ad Duluiyah 	Detained 49 individuals, descovered several weapons caches and searched 13 homes and the surrounding areas in a series of raids
Operation Triple Play 	 	 	Salman Pak 	To improve security for the upcoming elections in Iraq
==See also==
*2004 in Iraq
*List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War
==References==
Military operations of the Iraq War
Military operations of the Iraq War involving the United States
Military operations of the Iraq War involving Iraq
Iraq War coalition military operations
Coalition military operations
Operat
Category:2004
Category:2004 in Iraq