Camp Ashraf - History - Ashraf During Occupation of Iraq

Ashraf During Occupation of Iraq

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, coalition forces launched air attacks against MEK forces. Mujaheddin commanders negotiated a ceasefire on April 22, 2003 in which they were initially allowed to keep their military equipment.

In June 2003, US forces took control of Camp Ashraf and the MEK was consolidated, all their weapons were secured by special forces and their munitions and caches were maintained in a bunker complex located northeast of the city of Ashraf. Within months, the US sent in US military police battalions, to secure the bunkers and residents. Within a year, as a result of defecting Ashraf residents, two TIFs (Temp Intern Facilities) were added increasing the military battalions mission and troop to task requirements. The primary TIF housed approximately 500 PMOI defectors who were under US control and frequently screened for additional intel by various government agencies. Along with the defectors, the compound was home to approximately 22 military police officers and a team of 6 communication specialists from a different unit to establish secure and encrypted modes of communication. The remainder of the military police and other supporting personnel were on the main compound 2 km away. A lack of infrastructure on the compound made housing so many defectors difficult.

There were hostilities between those who defected and the remaining PMOI members who totalled approximately 5,000 and lived a few kilometers away. Threats of attacks by the remaining members constantly put US Servicemembers on alert as they were outnumbered almost 20-1 in 2004.