Operation Steel Curtain

A U.S. Marine and Iraqi Army soldiers watch over the surrounding streets from a rooftop in Karabilah, Iraq, during Operation Steel Curtain on Nov. 11, 2005. The intent of Steel Curtain is to restore Iraqi sovereign control along the Iraq-Syria border and destroy the al Qaeda network operating throughout the Qaim region. DoD photo by Cpl. Neill A. Sevelius, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released) (Released to Public) Location: KARABILAH, AL ANBAR IRQ

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Caleb Love watches for insurgent activity from the door of his UH-1N Huey helicopter while providing close air support for coalition forces engaging insurgents in the city of Ubadyi, Iraq, during Operation Steel Curtain on Nov. 16, 2005. Love is a Huey helicopter crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Staff Sgt. Logan Cortes, combat skills training instructor, Combat Skills Training School, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, displays the Bronze Star he received at Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 25, for his actions during Operation Steel Curtain. During an attack to clear houses in New Ubaydi, Cortes' platoon moved in to clear a small single-story building and was engaged by an enemy ambush. Cortes, 33, from Stockton, Calif., left his position three times, running through enemy fire to save two Marines and retrieve ammo for his machine gunner. Cortes is currently an instructor with the 1st MLG Combat Skills Training School at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

U.S. Marines with 1st Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, conduct a security patrol through the streets of Husaybah, Iraq, during Operation Steel Curtain on Nov. 8, 2005.

A U.S. Marine and his K-9 watch over the streets of Karabila while the Marines of India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, clear houses during Operation Steel Curtain in Husaybah, Iraq, on Nov. 10, 2005. The intent of Steel Curtain is to restore Iraqi sovereign control along the Iraq-Syria border and destroy the al Qaeda network operating throughout the Qaim region.

A U.S. Marine and Iraqi Army soldiers watch over the surrounding streets from a rooftop in Karabilah, Iraq, during Operation Steel Curtain on Nov. 11, 2005. The intent of Steel Curtain is to restore Iraqi sovereign control along the Iraq-Syria border and destroy the al Qaeda network operating throughout the Qaim region.

A U.S. Marine sits atop a table as he watches the street outside a window in Karabilah, Iraq, during Operation Steel Curtain on Nov. 11, 2005. The intent of Steel Curtain is to restore Iraqi sovereign control along the Iraq-Syria border and destroy the al Qaeda network operating throughout the Qaim region.

A Navy F/A-18C Hornet taxies to a steam-powered catapult on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the ship conducts flight operations in the Persian Gulf on Nov. 16, 2005. The aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 8 are flying missions from the Roosevelt to support Operation Steel Curtain. The Hornet is attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 87 of Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

HMAS Parramatta 051111-N-0685C-003

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (Nov. 17, 2005) -- Paintsville, Ky., native Lance Cpl. Scotty R. Price, rifleman, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team - 2, fires a Light Antitank Weapon at a possible insurgent position during Operation Steel Curtain. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jerad W. Alexander)

HUSAYBAH, Iraq- Major Mohlamd with the Iraqi Army speaks with a boy at the displaced persons compound during Operation Steel Curtain. The objectives of Operation Al Hajip Elfulathi (Steel Curtain) are to restore Iraqi sovereign control along the Iraqi-Syrian border and destroy the Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network operating throughout Al Qa'im region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael R. McMaugh, 1st Marine Division Combat Camera)

HUSAYBAH, Iraq- Iraqi Army soldiers and Marines pass out rations of food and water at the displaced persons camp during Operation Steel Curtain. The objectives of Operation Al Hajip Elfulathi (Steel Curtain) are to restore Iraqi sovereign control along the Iraq-Syria border and destroy the al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating throughout Al Qa'im region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael R. McMaugh, 1st Marine Division Combat Camera)

Three marines from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, patrol along the Euphrates River Oct. 3, 2005, during Operation Iron Fist, a counterinsurgency operation the marines conducted last year in the western Al Anbar province towns of Sa'dah and Eastern Karabilah. After spending seven months of routing out insurgents and stabilizing the Al Qa'im region, located along the Euphrates River in northwestern Al Anbar province near the Syrian border, the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based marines say they're leaving the region in better shape then when they arrived last year. During the past seven months, the marines have brought stability back to the people of western Iraq by training Iraqi Army soldiers and ridding the region of anti-Iraqi forces, thanks to an aggressive counterinsurgency campaign, which included Operation Steel Curtain last November - a major offensive to disrupt insurgent activity along the Syrian border which saw hundreds of insurgents killed or captured. "We're able to progress now with getting consistent (electrical) power, free and clean running water for all the villages up there, as well as starting to rebuild the hospitals and the schoolhouses that have suffered over the last three years," said colonel Stephen W. Davis, who commanded all marine forces in western Al Anbar province for the past year, during a Pentagon press briefing last month. The battalion's redeployment to the U.S. is part of a regularly scheduled rotation of forces in Al Anbar. More than 25,000 marine and sailors of Camp Pendleton, California-based I Marine Expeditionary Force are replacing the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based II MEF.

Persian Gulf (Nov. 13, 2005) - Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Tiffany Yates of Houston, Texas, troubleshoots a signal analyzer aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Javier Capella (RELEASED)

Husaybah, Iraq (Nov. 8, 2005) - U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Esnola, assigned to 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, provides security on a street in Husaybah, Iraq during a civil affairs patrol during Operation Steel Curtain. The objectives of Steel Curtain are to restore security along the Iraqi-Syrian border and to destroy the al Qaeda in Iraq's terror network operating throughout Husaybah. The operation is a joint U.S.-Iraqi military offensive. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael R. McMaugh (RELEASED)

Husaybah, Iraq (Nov. 8, 2005) - U.S. Navy Chaplain, Lt. Jeffery R. BorneMann, assigned to 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, reads a passage from a Bible at a religious service in Husaybah, Iraq during Operation Steel Curtain. The objectives of Steel Curtain are to restore security along the Iraqi-Syrian border and to destroy the al Qaeda in Iraq's terror network operating throughout Husaybah. The operation is a joint U.S.-Iraqi military offensive. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael R. McMaugh (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 11, 2005) – An F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the “Blacklions” of assigned to the “Blacklions” of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a mission over the Persian Gulf-region. VF-213 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), currently embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Aircraft assigned to CVW-8 are currently supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rob Tabor (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 11, 2005) – Squadron personnel ready their squadron’ F-14D Tomcats for flight operations on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), as the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Parramatta, sails closely behind. Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Javier Capella (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 14, 2005) – Lightning strikes in the distance behind an F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the “Blacklions” of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Javier Capella (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 13, 2005) - Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Tiffany Yates of Houston, Texas, troubleshoots a signal analyzer aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Javier Capella (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 14, 2005) – Lightning strikes in the distance behind an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the "Tridents" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Three (HS-3), on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Javier Capella (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 13, 2005) - Quartermaster Seaman Dampier Austin plots the ship's coordinates during watch on the bridge aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Stephen Early (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 13, 2005) - An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Golden Warriors" of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Seven (VFA-87), launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Stephen Early (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 13, 2005) - An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Golden Warriors" of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Seven (VFA-87), launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Nathan Laird (RELEASED)

Persian Gulf (Nov. 13, 2005) - An F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the "Blacklions" of Fighter Squadron 213 (VF-213), launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Nathan Laird (RELEASED)