NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Iraqi Operation Moonlight Ends in al Anbar Province

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq- Operation Alkamra Almaner (Moonlight) concluded yesterday evening.

Moonlight was the first brigade-level operation conducted by Iraqi Army soldiers in the Al Anbar province. Five Iraqi Army companies from 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division led the operation and were supported by a company of U.S. Marines from Regimental Combat Team-2.

The operation netted a weapons cache; additionally, Operation Moonlight demonstrated the Iraqi Army soldiers' ability to gather intelligence, plan, execute and exercise command and control during a large-scale operation.

The Iraqi soldiers, with the Marines following in trace, cleared an area east of Ubaydi along the northern and southern banks of the Euphrates River. The area directly to the west was cleared last month during Operation Steel Curtain.

No insurgents were encountered during the operation; however, one Iraqi soldier received minor injuries resulting from a roadside bomb attack. The soldier was treated at the scene and returned to duty. No Iraqi civilian casualties were reported.

No air strikes were conducted during the course of the operation.

Source: USMC