[IRQ]: Civil War

[Nathan]

Sensitive - Not for Public Release

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Situation

Counter terrorism operations of Iraq

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Background

Saddam Hussein's sunni supporters have attempted a coup in the sunni stronghold of Tikrit. Prime Minister Naser, with the support of his cabinet, has authorised a deployment of Iraq army personnel to restore order in Tikrit, locate Saddam Hussein and bring him to justice.

React to the 2004 New Years Day attacks

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Assets

17th Light Infantry Brigade
HQ: Tikrit (Saladin)

• 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment (775 Troops, 55 Humvees, 49 M939s)
• 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment (775 Troops, 55 Humvees, 49 M939s)
• 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment (775 Troops, 55 Humvees, 49 M939s)
• 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery Regiment (162 Troops, 4 Humvees, 21 M939, 18 m198)
• 1st Battalion, 5th Engineering Regiment (318 Troops, 17 humvees, 15 Kraz)
• 1st Battalion, 5th Signal Regiment (120 Troops)
• 1st Battalion, 5th Logistics Regiment (120 Troops)
• 1st Battalion, 5th Medical Regiment (120 Troops)

1st Special Operations Brigade

• 2nd Battalion (ICTF) - 395 Counter Terrorism Troops, 69 Humvees, 3 M939

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Recommendation

• Secure the government offices currently captured by member's of Saddam's insurgents
• Restore Order

 

[Nathan]

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From their base in Tikrit, 1st/5th Infantry mounted up in their Humvees and trucks as a quick reaction force for the ongoing situation at the government offices. Men looked nervous as they checked their weapons as the humvees hurtled out of the relative security of their base.

The reconnaissance platoon were the first to arrive. As they pulled into the street housing the government office, a large crowd had swelled up. Within minutes of their arrival, rocks, stones and molotov cocktails begun to pound against the metal body of the humvees. Flashbangs were tossed back as the remaining trucks of the battalion arrived behind. Police officers inside the building continued to attempt to hold back the protestors, as they attempted to break in to capture the governor.

Army officers equipped themselves with riot gear as federal police officers also arrived on the scene. One company of soldiers broke off and climbed into the government building through the police station next door, offering critical resupply and support to the overwhelmed local police officers.

Back in Baghdad, the counter terrorism battalion of the special forces brigade begun their journey north to support the forces. Additional National Police were also sent up.

 

[Nathan]

The men of the 160 men of A Company were now inside the compound, pushing their way into the building as the crowd again once again swelled in numbers.

Outside, the crowd grew increasingly angry, throwing molotov cocktails at the remaining B, C and support company who were holding off the crowd on the street, desperately trying to push through to relieve the entrance to the government compound.

As molotov cocktails rained down on them, the 3 companies were pushed back by the sheer volume of protestors. Officers began to fall to the floor injured as the crowd jeered and screamed.

For the men inside the compound, the fighting grew increasingly tense, the fighting was now hand to hand as the soldiers attempted to hold the line. One soldier was dragged away by the mob, followed by another 4 soldiers. The company commander began to scream into his radio for assistance.

The crowd pushed the soldiers back into the building itself. Further soldiers were cut off and dragged away, before being brutally beaten. As they were dragged away, one soldier managed to discreetly hide a radio device down his clothing. When being dragged into a car, he managed to drop it in between the car seats hidden from view.

As the situation worsened, the battalion commander called for further assistance. 2nd and 3rd/5th Infantry scrambled from their bases in their humvees ready to join the fight.

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[Nathan]

Tikrut
19:30

The chaos had gone on for hours. Daylight was beginning to fade as the next major escalation descended on the street. The too and throwing continued as exhausted soldiers inside the building fought back for their lives. Protestors grabbed hold of their shields and sticks, turning their weapons against them The Company commander inside, major Hussein, grew increasingly concerned at the situation. He would radio directly to his battalion commander outside on the street

"This is Alpha Company, we are in danger of being over run. We need immediate support!"

The radio message was passed through to the battalion HQ as the crowd pushed further inside. The battalion commander attempted to contact the Iraqi Ministry of Defence for advice, but no signal could be gained. The commander made his own decision, radioing through to his besieged commander

"Lethal force is authorised."

Shots begun to ring out from the building as bodies fell. The crowd dispersed, tramping over others as they fell. The crackle and whistle of bullets momentarily filled the air, before an eerie silence replaced it momentarily, pierced only by the screams of those injured. Protestors dispersed, replaced by masked figures at the end of the street.

A flash filled the sky as a RPG rocket flew towards the humvees. A symphony of red hot bullets popped and crackled against the metal vehicles. Iraqi soldiers returned fire with the humvees heavy machine guns as platoons of Iraqi soldiers spread out, clearing house to house towards the direction of fire.

Counter terrorism and the 2nd and 3rd battalions joined the fray as the battle erupted across the city. Ambulances raced across the city and from nearby towns to assist as large numbers of casualties begun to present. RPGS and rockets fell close to the Iraqi forces.

Iraqi and foreign news outlets would be recording the ongoing events.

 

[Nathan]

The Counter terrorism forces now joined the fight in the city. Close fire artillery from the artillery battalion would rain down on the city, forcing civilians to flee the city on mass.

-=-=-=-

For the men kidnapped by the crowd, their fight was growing increasingly bleak. They were subjected to beatings and public humiliation. However, the signal from the hidden radio device allowed a company of special forces to close in on their positions, at a disused police station.

An advanced platoon of 36 men managed to sneak into the building opposite the police station. Snipers took position at back of the room, allowing shade to conceal their positions. Using their scopes they reconned the positions, gaining valuable insight into the occupants.

The men waiting for darkness to fall, and revenge to be brought against the hostage takers.

 

[Nathan]

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The situation in Tikrit had been dormant for some time. Captured soldiers were released diplomatically and a uneasy calmness had stretched across the town for months.

The election of a Secular, Shia orientated President had changed it. Saddam Hussein was enraged at what he felt was an insult. A coup of the Shia's to tarnish his legacy. The diehard supporters the Fedayeen, had been operating out of Tikrit for some time building a network of loyal supporters and sowing distrust of government forces. The months of peace had allowed Saddam's forces to skim anti-air and anti-tank man carrier launchers from Sunnis in the Iraq armed forces. For Saddam, the time to strike was now.

Across Tikrit, military bases were attacked as heavy fighting broke out in the Zahor, Shisen and Al-Arbaeen neighbourhoods. The 17th Light Infantry Brigade were the cities defenders but were very soon pushed out of the targeted neighbourhoods. The atillery Battalion of the brigade begun to pummel the positions.

To the north, a large convoy of Fedayeen attempted to encircle the North and West of the town. Combined with the Tigiris to the East, this would envelop the forces holding the city.

To the West, the Air force base of Al Sahra airforce base was the focus on misisle and mortar attacks. The training squadrons quickly ran to the perimeter fencing as a large number of militants approached the airbase.

6 F-16s from No.3 Fighter Squadron were launched with guided bombs and missiles to the city. A II-76m from No.19 Squadron joined them ready to provide aerial refuelling as required.

For the second night in the row, the President received as unwelcome wake up call.

The Civil War of Iraq had begun.

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[Nathan]

1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment continued to fight hard towards the area of Zahor. The green soldiers of the battalion fought in close quarters combat against the veteran fedayeen.

A company would break off into a brutal fight for a compound. Grenades would be let off as the soldiers rushed in, hand to hand fighting would break out as the men battered and slashed each other with firearms and knives.

Across the city, a F16 would deliver its bomb against a Sunni firing position, sending a cloud of smoke up in the air.

At the airbase, the l-16 trainer aircraft would be flown out of the airbase as heavy weapons rained down on it. Most aircraft would make it out unharmed, but one aircraft would be clipped by a mortar as it took off. The pilot would eject as his aircraft cartwheels into the nearby desert. Saddams fighters continued their approach into the airbase despite a 500ib bomb hitting nearby from a F16. The battle for the airport continues.

 

[Nathan]

Dust kicked up from the drop site. The men of the airbase remained surrounded on all sides by Saddam's forces as the battle for the city centre escalated.

15 Iraqi soldiers had been killed in the fighting already. A further 20 were injured and shipped off to Um Qasr military hospital.

Across the country, further military assets were put on hold. Ready to respond to the conflict in the North. The President of Iraq continued to monitor the situation from the Palace, ready to direct and respond to the growing threats. Civilians continued to leave the city in growing numbers, hoping to build new lives in the South.