Background
In March 2003, a United States-led coalition invaded Iraq. Within several months afterwards, an insurgency had developed within the country, aimed against the coalition. The Hai Al Becker region, the area where Operation Iron Hammer was focused, was suspected before the operation began to be a 'safe area' for Al-Qaeda in Iraq, a Sunni insurgency group, as well as a base of operations for the construction of vehicles and roadside bombs for the organization. Car bombs were also manufactured. The region was also believed to have been a stopping point for members of the Iraqi insurgency as they traveled down the Euphrates River from Syria into the interior of Iraq. In July 2005, American and New Iraqi Army soldiers reportedly established a long-term security presence in Hīt, located near the region. Before the operation, the region was not usually patrolled by the United States Armed Forces or the New Iraqi Army.
Read more about this topic: Operation Iron Hammer (Iraq 2005)
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