2.  Military offensive conducted by the United States and supported by Iraqi forces against Al Qaeda insurgents  Offensive was launched on September 1, 2005  Objective: Destroy suspected insurgent havens and base operations in Tel Afar

3.  City of over 150,000 people.

4.  The operation in Tal Afar has been well planned in advance. The preparation includes:  1) Berms ( level spaced barrier to separate two areas) were constructed to ring the city.  2) Checkpoints on roadways  3) Two battalions of Iraqi troops from the 3rd Division were moved to the region.  4) Concertina wire (razor wire, the modern day equivalent of barbed wire) and other obstacles have been assembled around insurgent dominated Sarai neighborhood.  5) A camp was established to screen citizens and identify insurgents.

5.  The offensive is not to just clear the insurgents from the city, but also trap them in the city and defeat them.  Surround the insurgents and force them to fight.  Sarai district in city is where the insurgents holdout is  American/Iraqi forces: secure city allow no one to escape

6.  Lasted from September 1- September 18  Fighting was heavy between two sides in the city.  The Americans secured the city on September 3 rd but fighting continued until the 18 th

7.  Involved: 5,000 Iraqi forces- 3,500 USA forces  Insurgents: Unknown  Casualties: USA 6 KIA  Iraqi forces: 15 KIA  USA 52 WIA  Iraqi 36 WIA  Insurgents: 163 KIA/ 295 captured