Note: The following post is an exact quote:
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20051028.txt
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
October 7, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-28
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OPERATION IRON FIST CONCLUDES
CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – Approximately 1,000 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors assigned to Regimental Combat Team –2 concluded Operation Kabda Bil Hadid, or Iron Fist in English in the Al Qa’im region of Western Al Anbar late on Oct. 6.
The goal of the six day operation was to root out Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists and to disrupt insurgent support systems in and around the city of Sa’dah, located 12 miles east of the Syrian border on the southern bank of the Euphrates River.
Coalition Forces have established new outposts in Sa’dah in order to maintain a presence in the area. These positions will sustain ongoing operations to defeat the flow of Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists from Syria along the Euphrates River Valley.
The operation resulted in more than 50 Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists killed.
The Marines have gone to great lengths to protect the civilian population from these terrorists and minimize civilian casualties and collateral damage.
The offensive was part of the larger Operation Sayaid (Hunter), aimed at denying Al Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate in the Euphrates River Valley and at preventing the terrorists from continuing their campaign of murder and intimidation against the local population.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE 2D MARINE DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER AT POOLJS@GCEMNF-WIRAQ.USMC.MIL.
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