Operation Bayonet Lightning was a military operation during the early stages of the Iraq War, that was held to capture weapons, materials, and people who posed a threat against coalition forces. The joint operation between Iraq and the United States, lasted approximately 16 hours, and was conducted on 2 December 2003. 1,200 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the 4th Infantry Division, and Iraqi military participated. Operation Bayonet Lightning was concentrated on Al Hawija, Iraq, and the village of Rashad, Iraq, sixty kilometers, or thirty-seven miles, to the south of Kirkuk, Iraq.^[1]

Quick Facts Date, Location ...

Operation Bayonet Lightning
Part of Iraq War
United States Army soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade pull security on the streets of Al Hawijah, Iraq, during Operation Bayonet Lighting.
Date 2 December 2003 Location Al Hawijah, Iraq Result Capture of suspected anti-coalition forces and weapons caches.
Belligerents
United States  Iraq Iraq	Iraqi insurgency
Strength
1,200 soldiers	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown
Unknown

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During Operation Bayonet Lightning, coalition forces located and confiscated sixty-two AK-47 assault rifles, two hundred rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one rocket propelled grenade launcher and two improvised explosive device-making kits.

Twenty six individuals were captured, including three targeted individuals, Saad Mohammed ad-Douri, the private secretary of Izzat Ibrahim ad-Douri, and Hamid Saad, a senior official of Saddam Hussein's former ruling Ba'ath Party in charge of youth and student affairs, and a former general of the disbanded Iraqi Army.

Operation Bayonet Lightning followed Operation Rifles Blitz and was followed by Operation Bulldog Mammoth.