Operation Highworth

25-26 January 2025: Combat Mission, Catterick OBUA

Location: Arab Jibor, Baghdad, Iraq

During the spring and summer months of 2007, Task Force Knight suffered several casualties as it extended its operations into Sadr City. In April, the British Special Forces unit focused its efforts against the Sunni insurgency in Arab Jabour, which HUMINT intelligence revealed was soon to be an al-Qaeda stronghold.

Following the disbandment of Task Force Spartan in southern Iraq after the British withdrawal, Task Force Knight focused its efforts on the al-Qaeda VBIED network in Baghdad, mainly in Arab Jabour, as well as Dora and Salman Pak.

By December 2007, the Sunni insurgency began to wane, and the al-Qaeda network across Baghdad sought to consolidate their manpower into Arab Jabour. The area quickly became destabilised; hundreds of attacks occurred against Coalition forces within days, the CIVPOP was almost entirely displaced, and in many cases, forced into suicide bomb attacks. 

Al-Qaeda finally had its stronghold in Arab Jabour. Safehouses were set up across the neighbourhood, and IED factories sprang up in industrial and residential properties alike. Civilians were often recruited by force as the insurgency strengthened its manpower and forged effective supply routes through the backstreets, untraceable by Coalition surveillance.

January 2008. With the situation rapidly spiralling out of control, and Coalition manpower in the area limited to SOF, Task Force Knight is tasked with immediate COIN and CT operations in an effort to get effective boots on the ground and eliminate the al-Qaeda leadership.

TF KNIGHT

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AQ MILITIA

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Catterick OBUA – Directions

Lat, Long / Postcode:
54.359700, -1.717140 / DL9 3RH

Arrivals:
1800H-2300H 24 January
0730-0830H 25 January

Price

£105 TOTAL
– Online booking of £45 deposit (plus fees)
– Remainder to be paid on arrival