United States United Kingdom Iraq Invasion (2003) Post-invasion insurgency (2003–2006) Civil war (2006–2008) Insurgency (2008–2011) The 2003 attack on Karbala was an unsuccessful strike on the Iraqi Republican Guard's Medina Division by the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

[8] The U.S. sought to continue its shock and awe campaign by crippling the elite Medina Republican Guard division, thus demoralizing the enemy.

The Third Infantry Division moved ahead of schedule, causing the mission to be pulled in 24 hours.

[3] The 31 AH-64 Apaches of the 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment took off from Tactical Assembly Area Vicksburg, which was inside Objective Rams.

As the helicopters came within range, the Iraqis signaled their troops to open fire by turning off the city's power grid for several seconds.

Lieutenant Jason King, gunner of Apache "Palerider 1-6", was hit by AKM fire[9] in the neck and suffered a severe hemorrhage, but he never lost consciousness.

[citation needed] Apache "Vampire 1-2", flown by Warrant Officers David S. Williams and Ronald D. Young Jr., was forced down into a marsh after gunfire severed its hydraulics.

Attempting to flee the crash scene, both men swam down a canal, but were captured by armed civilians.

[12] Attack helicopters would henceforth be used to reveal the location of enemy troops, allowing them to be destroyed by artillery and air strikes.