Coalition and Iraqi Forces Knock Enemy off Balance During Operation Harris Ba’sil

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070520-06

CAMP RIPPER, AL ASAD, Iraq – Regimental Combat Team 2 and elements of the Iraqi Army’s 7th Division completed Operation Harris Ba’sil after eight weeks of interdicting and disrupting enemy routes and safe havens outside of the major cities of the Euphrates River valley in western al Anbar province.

The operation, dubbed “Valiant Guardian”, involved nearly 4,000 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors covering most of the 30,000 square miles of RCT-2’s operating area.

“We uncovered over 250 caches, arrested over 250 suspected insurgents and discovered over 100 improvised explosive devices,” said Lt. Col. Michael Manning, operations officer for RCT-2. “We clearly surprised them, the number of caches and detainees attest to that but more importantly, we let the enemy know that they can’t hide from us.”

This marked the first large scale operation for RCT-2 this year, supporting Multi National Force - Iraq’s Operation Farhd al Qanoon and utilizing the surge battalions sent to the Anbar Province. RCT-2’s operating area stretches from the Syrian border city of Al Qa’im down to the town of Hit, located northwest of Ramadi.