Operation Saber Guardian
Background
Background
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In mid\-October 2006, al\-Qaeda announced the creation of [Islamic State of Iraq](/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq "Islamic State of Iraq") (ISI),Urban, Mark, *Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq* , St. Martin's Griffin , 2012  ,p.183 replacing the [Mujahideen Shura Council](/wiki/Mujahideen_Shura_Council_%28Iraq%29 "Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)") (MSC) and its [al\-Qaeda in Iraq](/wiki/Tanzim_Qaidat_al-Jihad_fi_Bilad_al-Rafidayn "Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn") (AQI).

The operation began early Tuesday morning with close air support engaging three river crossings and one bridge with eight 2,000 pound bombs and 14\-500 pound bombs. The locations are used by Islamic State of Iraq to conduct their attacks and were engaged to prevent their escape.

"This operation was very important for the people of Sherween because they were able to find a very big hideout for the terrorists," said Staff Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem, commander of [Iraqi Security Forces](/wiki/Iraqi_Security_Forces "Iraqi Security Forces") in [Diyala](/wiki/Diyala_Governorate "Diyala Governorate") province. "It was a very big surprise for the terrorists and the people that support them."

The people of Sherween played a vital role in this operation as they fought side by side the ISF to help them capture and kill known [terrorists](/wiki/Terrorists "Terrorists").

Members of the IA also cleared a local [mosque](/wiki/Mosque "Mosque"), a suspected terrorist haven, and identified mortar tubes, a mortar cache, small\-arms munitions, a sniper rifle and machine guns. The other weapons cache included small\-arms munitions and IED\-making materials.

"The political impact will strengthen the local population's confidence in the IA and the local government," said Maj. John Woodward, 6\-9 ARS executive officer. "It will also facilitate [Sunni](/wiki/Sunni "Sunni") Resistance fighting in the [Muqdadiyah](/wiki/Muqdadiyah "Muqdadiyah") area as the people have grown tired of the destruction al\-Qaida offers."

"Such an operation will have a very big impact on the future of [Diyala](/wiki/Diyala_Governorate "Diyala Governorate")," said Kareem. "This will serve as lessons for the terrorists and their supporters.

"Now they will start thinking there is no safe haven," Kareem continued. "The ISF and CF will follow them wherever they go."


Who announced the creation of the Islamic State of Iraq?