Operation Red Dawn

Operation Red Dawn
source
Name	Operation Red Dawn
Part of	Iraq War
Date	December 13, 2003
Place	Ad-Dawr, Iraq
Combatant1	United States
Combatant2	Iraqi insurgency

Operation Red Dawn was a military operation conducted by the United States Armed Forces in Ad-Dawr, Iraq, on December 13, 2003, with the primary objective of capturing Saddam Hussein, the former President of Iraq. The operation involved a combination of United States Army and Task Force 121 personnel, including 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division (United States), and Delta Force. The successful capture of Saddam Hussein was a significant milestone in the Iraq War, and it was widely reported by CNN, BBC News, and Al Jazeera. The operation was also supported by British Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force personnel, who were part of the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Background

The Iraq War had been ongoing since March 2003, with the United States and its coalition partners, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland, seeking to overthrow the Ba'athist regime and capture its leaders, including Saddam Hussein and his sons, Uday Hussein and Qusay Hussein. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been working closely with Iraqi National Congress and Kurdistan Democratic Party to gather intelligence on the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein. The United Nations Security Council had also passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, which called for Iraq to disarm and cooperate with United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) inspectors, including Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei.

Planning and Preparation

The planning and preparation for Operation Red Dawn involved a combination of human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) gathering, as well as coordination between United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) personnel, including General Tommy Franks and General Ricardo Sanchez. The National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) also played a crucial role in providing intelligence support for the operation, which was carried out in conjunction with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The United States Air Force and United States Navy provided air support for the operation, including F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle aircraft, as well as USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

Execution

The execution of Operation Red Dawn involved a raid on a farm in Ad-Dawr, Iraq, where Saddam Hussein was believed to be hiding, based on intelligence provided by CIA and FBI sources, including Ahmed Chalabi and Iyad Allawi. The operation was carried out by a team of Delta Force operators, who were inserted into the area by MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, supported by AH-64 Apache helicopters and AC-130 Spectre gunships. The team was able to capture Saddam Hussein without firing a shot, and he was subsequently taken into custody by United States Army personnel, including 4th Infantry Division (United States) and 1st Cavalry Division (United States). The operation was widely reported by Fox News, MSNBC, and Al Arabiya, and it was hailed as a major success by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Aftermath

The aftermath of Operation Red Dawn saw Saddam Hussein being taken into custody and held at a United States facility in Iraq, where he was interrogated by CIA and FBI personnel, including George Tenet and Robert Mueller. The capture of Saddam Hussein was a significant blow to the Iraqi insurgency, which had been waging a guerrilla war against the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Interim Government, led by Ayad Allawi and Ibrahim al-Jaafari. The operation also marked a major milestone in the Iraq War, and it was seen as a significant achievement by the United States and its coalition partners, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland. The United Nations Security Council also passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511, which authorized the Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) to maintain security and stability in Iraq.

Controversy and Criticism

The Operation Red Dawn was not without controversy and criticism, with some arguing that the operation was a violation of Iraq's sovereignty and that Saddam Hussein should have been captured by Iraqi forces, rather than by the United States military, which had been working closely with Iraqi National Congress and Kurdistan Democratic Party. Others argued that the operation was a success and that it marked a major milestone in the Iraq War, which had been authorized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 and supported by NATO and the European Union. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Human Rights Watch also raised concerns about the treatment of Saddam Hussein and other detainees in United States custody, including those held at Guantanamo Bay detention center and Abu Ghraib prison. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also called for greater transparency and accountability in the treatment of detainees in Iraq and elsewhere. Category:2003 in Iraq