The mission, according to 86 CRG Commander Colonel Steven Weart (who jumped into Bashur with his troops) was to support the 173 Airborne Brigade and its buildup of combat power. This was also the first combat jump made from the C-17 Globemaster transport and was the largest airborne assault since Operation JUST CAUSE in 1989. In addition there was 1 medic, 1 intel, 1 Fuels, and 1 CE also in the SFS, as they are a multi-AFSC 16 squadron) under command of Major Erik Rundquist, made the first Air Force combat parachute assault along with about 1,000 paratroopers of the Army‘s 173 Airborne Brigade onto Bashur Airfield in mountainous northern Iraq. As many Security Forces members supported the effort by securing air fields around the world, others prepared to enter Iraq itself.Īt 2015Z March 26, 2003, Air Force history was made when members of the 86 CRG, including 18 jumpers from the 786 SFS (14 of which were SF. The insurgency/civil war in Afghanistan continues.On March 19, 2003, the United States opened another front on the war on terrorism when it began an aerial bombardment of Iraq to kick off Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

His body was taken to Afghanistan for complete identification and was buried at sea in compliance with Islamic law. On, in Abbottabad, Pakistan, bin Laden was killed by Seal Team 6. In this case, bin Laden went to Pakistan along with many in the Taliban.

As with any military operation, as soon as restrictions are placed on military operations, the enemy goes to the restricted areas. When the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden who was responsible for the September 11 attacks, the US and other coalition nations began their assault. The mission of the GWOT was the destruction of terrorist training camps and infrastructure in Afghanistn, the capture of al-Qaeda leaders, and the cessation of terrorist activities in Afghanistan.Īfter the Soviets left Afghanistan in 1996, the Taliban, with their extreme interpretation of Islamic law, filled the power vacuum. President Bush ordered attacks on the Taliban and Al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan. OEF or the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) began on 7 October 2001 after the September 11 suicide airline attacks on the Trade Center, the Pentagon and the abortive attack that ended with the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. The media, the military and the government began calling the 'insurgency' a civil war in which the US should not take a position. Conditions in Iraq continued to deteriorate. It was believed that the insurgency would cease then. Saddam Hussein was captured, tried, found guilty and executed by hanging on 30 December 2006. Saddam's Ba'ath Party was dissolved.Īn insurgency arose to fight for prominence in any new Iraqi government and to remove any occupying coalition forces. The operation began with the objective of ending the regime of Saddam Hussein find and destroy weapons of mass destruction seek and destroy terrorists in Iraq and find terrorist networks deliver humanitarian support to many Iraqi citizens and secure the oil fields which belong to the Iraqi people and bring about peace for the Iraqi people.The operation began on 23 March 2003. Saddam continued his war of words and threats to peace against his neighbors. When this did not happen the US remained alert but did not want to engage in hostilities. The US and coalition hoped that with the defeat of Iraqi forces in Desert Shield/Storm that an uprising in Iraq would depose Saddam Hussein.

Operation iraqi freedom