In his words, In recent months, American and Iraqi forces have struck powerful blows against al Qaeda terrorists and violent extremists in Anbar and other provinces.

The operation dubbed Lightning Hammer consisted of approximately 16,000 Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces and was a large-scale offensive to defeat al-Qaeda and other terrorist cells seeking safe haven throughout the Diyala River Valley.

In addition to the thousands of soldiers and their ISF counterparts participating in Lightning Hammer, attack helicopters, close-air support, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and tanks complement the combined effort.

The 5-73 Soldiers defeated several ineffective small arms attacks, killing three al-Qaeda gunmen, detaining eight, and uncovering a weapons cache, numerous IEDs and a booby-trapped house.

In a supporting offensive north of Baqouba, the 5th Iraqi Army Division and 5-20th Infantry Regiment discovered an ISI hideout, complete with bedrolls, believed to house 25 fighters, along with a substantial weapons cache of IED making material, mortars and rocket propelled grenades.

The initial focus of the operation was the Za'ab Triangle, a rural area in the Kirkuk province, an al Qaida in Iraq safe haven and a likely location for an insurgent withdrawal from Coalition forces following their defeat in Diyala.

It targeted insurgents in the Tigris River Valley who had been forced to withdraw from safe havens in Arab Jabour and Salman Pak by previous operations.

This operation involved the continued development and support of the Concerned Local Citizen groups by the Coalition forces, particularly the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) of the 3rd Infantry Division.

Marne Courageous was launched on 16 November 2007, targeting key ISI supply depots in the Yusufiyah area of the Euphrates River Valley, south east of Baghdad.

On the first day of the operation, Coalition forces uncovered and destroyed a large tunnel network used by ISI to hide weapons and fighters along the banks of the Euphrates River.