OPERATION IVY BLIZZARD

CENTCOM ^ | Dec. 17, 2003

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

December 17, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-42


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


OPERATION IVY BLIZZARD

TIKRIT, Iraq – Early this morning the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse initiated Operation Ivy Blizzard, a joint operation with Iraqi security forces within Samarra at the request of local leadership.

The operation is a combined effort to target, isolate and eliminate former regime elements and other anti-Coalition cells that continue to try to destabilize Iraq and intimidate innocent Iraqi citizens who choose freedom over tyranny.

Saddam Hussein’s capture is one of the most significant events in Iraq’s progress as the country continues to advance towards realizing its potential. However, there are still those who would deny Iraq this opportunity. Operation Ivy Blizzard will target those former regime elements that held power for decades at the expense of Iraq’s future.

Another goal of the operation is for Task Force Ironhorse to engage the Samarran community leadership, identify infrastructure repair priorities, and fund projects to improve quality of life, stimulate economic growth and further strengthen and empower the local government.

Operation Ivy Blizzard is a comprehensive, coordinated and offensive regiment of isolation of insurgents and extremists. The purpose of this objective is to deny anti-Coalition elements freedom of movement, communication and organization while providing innocent citizens a stable environment free from reprisals and indiscriminate violence of former regime loyalists. Swift, decisive action will be taken against those who flagrantly disregard the rule of law and commit crimes against the Coalition and their fellow Iraqis.

Additional phases of the operation include recruiting and training Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers and local police, and empowering Iraqi governmental leadership in their efforts to successfully transition to a free and democratic society.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

TIKRIT, Iraq – Early this morning the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse initiated Operation Ivy Blizzard, a joint operation with Iraqi security forces within Samarra at the request of local leadership.

The operation is a combined effort to target, isolate and eliminate former regime elements and other anti-Coalition cells that continue to try to destabilize Iraq and intimidate innocent Iraqi citizens who choose freedom over tyranny.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also: 8 SAMARRA AMBUSH ~ CENTCOM | 12/16/03

Good job, troops! Fourth Infantry Division, ping!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[Darksheare]

This related to Arrowhead Blizzard?

[Coop]

Way to go, troops!

[theDentist]

"... a joint operation with Iraqi security forces within Samarra at the request of local leadership."

I believe we will now begin receiving a lot more of these requests now that we have that coward in custody.

More bad news for the DemocRats.

[AmericanInTokyo]

**OPERATION HOWARD DEAN**

Oh would I ever love the Pentagon if they would call an Iraqi counterinsurgency operation that! LOL

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Coop]

Update/excerpt from CNN:

SAMARRA, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. forces launched an offensive Wednesday to root out insurgents in the restive Iraqi city of Samarra, scooping up 30 suspected anti-coalition insurgents.

The campaign, called Operation Ivy Blizzard, got under way early Wednesday in Samarra a day after the capture of a "high-level target," who was believed to be financing anti-coalition attacks, and 73 other Iraqis. Operation Ivy Blizzard involves the 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Ironhorse and Iraqi police.

Col. Frederick Rudesheim said the 30 suspects were picked up during a number of targeted raids and search operations.

Checkpoints have been set up to control and monitor access to Samarra, 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Saddam Hussein's ancestral homeland of Tikrit.

Rudesheim said the majority of those arrested were targeted, adding that some people were more important than others. He said the military hasn't found any foreign fighters among the suspects.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/12/17/sprj.irq.main/index.html

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Arrowhead Blizzard is 3/2's portion of Ivy Blizzard. I believe they are OPCON to 4ID right now.

[Darksheare]

Thanks.
Was wondering about that, sounded too close to NOT be related operations.

[sgdill]

Take out on aisle 4..