Operation Augurs of Prosperity

Part of the Iraq War, Post-invasion Iraq

Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR, provide security during Operation Sabre Pursuit in eastern Diyala.

Date	29 July 2008 – 11 August 2008 (first phase)
Location	Diyala, Iraq
Result	US-Iraqi Victory

Belligerents

United States

Iraq

Islamic State of Iraq
Other Iraqi Insurgents

Commanders and leaders

Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling

Basem al Safaah (POW)

Strength

50,000 Iraqi soldiers and police

3,000 U.S. soldiers

Unknown

Casualties and losses

51 killed (Iraqi security forces),
7 killed (Awakening Councils)

15 killed,
800 captured

At least 70 civilians killed

Operation Augurs of Prosperity (Arabic: Bashaer al-Kheir) was an Iraqi operation against insurgents in Diyala, north-east of Baghdad. The operation was launched on 29 July 2008 by elements of at least three Iraqi Army divisions, with four U.S. armored cavalry squadrons from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in support. The U.S. led operation was designated Operation Iron Pursuit and consisted of three sub-operations: Sabre Pursuit, Eagle Pursuit and Bastogne Pursuit.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, the first phase of the operation was concluded on 11 August. Major-General Mohammed al-Askari reported that the Iraqi security forces had achieved half of the goals set for the operation. Al-Askari reported that 800 suspects had been arrested, including 42 Islamic State of Iraq leaders.

In January 2008, U.S. forces throughout Iraq launched Operation Phantom Phoenix, a corps-level operation with a significant focus on Diyala. Despite a decrease in violence, partly attributable to Awakening Councils, groups formed by Sunni sheiks and supported by American forces, attacks remained at high levels. Many of these attacks were directed at the leaders of these groups.

Insurgents retained strongholds in the western desert regions of Diyala, in the foothills of the Hamrin mountains and around Lake Hamrin. These locations were a fall-back position for al-Qaida in Iraq and other insurgent groups and were targeted by U.S. special operations forces in the months leading up to the operation.

On 29 July, the Diyala Operational Command imposed a curfew throughout the province, restricting all unofficial vehicle movement, and a number of checkpoints were set up in the capital, Baqubah.

Iraqi forces conducted a number of house searches in Baqubah and Khan Bani Saad, 15 miles south of Baqubah.

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Wikipedia