Page 228 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

730 XXXIV Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

After having developed a clearer picture of the situation in Tall ‘Afar, 2d Squadron, joined
by 1st Squadron and Special Operations Forces, launched Operation SABRE UNLEASHED
(1 July–31 August), a series of shaping operations to create the conditions for Operation
RESTORING RIGHTS—the decisive squadron-level combat operation against the insurgents.
In SABRE UNLEASHED, 2d Squadron launched simultaneous attacks throughout the AO
that denied the insurgents’ freedom of maneuver and significantly disrupted their ability to
strike out at Coalition forces and civilians. A crucial element in SABRE UNLEASHED was
the positioning of elements from 3d Iraqi Division throughout Tall ‘Afar and along the MSR
to provide overwatch and security and to deny the insurgents their freedom to maneuver.
Nonetheless, the intensity and frequency of insurgent attacks within the city prevented 2d
Squadron from positioning Iraqi posts in any appreciable depth. 37
Because of the scale and scope of this operation, Hickey determined that every mission
executed by 2d Squadron elements had the potential to become a squadron-level operation.
The degree of communication and resulting situational awareness also enabled troop and
company commanders to support one another quickly. According to the squadron’s account,
“Units became intuitively aware of the actions of adjacent units and became capable of
performing outside of their areas in order to provide assistance to other units.” On 9 July, a
G Troop raid in Sarai turned into a squadron-level operation. 38
At 0520, G Troop executed a raid in search of surface-to-air missiles. Serving alongside
G Troop were Special Forces teams partnered with the Iraqi 3d Battalion, 1st Brigade, and
O and P Troops from 4th Squadron. Air Force close air support (CAS) and OH58D crews
from O Troop reported on suspicious actions in the area, which alerted G Troop to establish
a cordon around it. Dismounted cavalrymen initiated the search of a suspected house and
began receiving fire from insurgents. G Troop expanded the search to other houses and
began securing the area. The fight expanded as insurgents opened fire with RPGs on a
tank platoon as it began securing a school, key terrain in the neighborhood. In response, O
Troop shifted to provide CAS as elements from F Troop moved in to assist while G Troop
conducted a casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) for a wounded Soldier, Spec. Hoby Bradfield.
Finally securing the area, the search uncovered insurgent propaganda CDs, RPG warheads, a
suicide-bomb vest, and other weapons. At 0540 the M113 ambulance carrying the wounded
Soldier struck an IED, which destroyed it, killed one medic, and wounded another; doctors
with the 228th Combat Surgical Hospital in Mosul pronounced Bradfield dead. The blast
site, which was under observation by insurgents, grew into a firefight as elements from F
troop secured the area. 39
G Troop’s battle continued to grow, drawing in more participants from throughout the
squadron. As a psychological operations (PSYOP) team broadcast messages from the castle,
tanks from E Troop made their way to support G Troop, which was returning fire with 120-
mm main gun, 25-mm chain-gun, machine gun, and M136 AT4 antitank fire. Insurgent
sniper, small arms, and RPG fire continued as Special Forces and iraqi soldiers joined in the
fight with 40-mm grenade fire. Throughout the fight, H Company provided overwatch and

37 ibid., 24.
38 ibid., 25.
39 Ibid., 25–26.