Operation Phantom Phoenix began in the first week of January 2008. According to Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the goal for Operation Phantom Phoenix, is to protect the nine major cities in Iraq, with a particular emphasis on Baghdad. This was also the case with the previous Corps level offensives, Operation Phantom Thunder and Operation Phantom Strike. Phantom Thunder ran from June to August last year and aimed to eliminate major enemy safe havens around the capital in order to secure the population of Baghdad and its immediate suburbs.  Phantom Strike built on the momentum of Phantom Thunder by pursuing al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremists as they fled previous sanctuaries and attempted to regroup in smaller areas throughout Iraq.  

Operation Phantom Phoenix aims to destroy the remaining al-Qaeda in Iraq presence and is expected to last between 60 and 90 days. Lt. Gen Odierno stated: “Working closely with the Iraqi Security Forces, we will continue to pursue al-Qaeda and other extremists wherever they attempt to take sanctuary.” These operations aim to eradicate safe havens and focus on territories in MND-North’s area of operations, including the Diyala River Valley and Ninevah province.

Phantom Phoenix includes several joint Iraqi and Coalition division and brigade-level operations throughout northern Iraq (MND-North’s area of operations) as well as in the southern belts of Baghdad (MND-Central’s area of operations). In MND-North, Operation Iron Harvest is the division-level operation, while in MND-South the division-level operation is Operation Marne Thunderbolt.

Additionally, Phantom Phoenix will go after the remaining car, truck and suicide bomb networks in Baghdad as well as al-Qaeda’s financial network. Following kinetic operations that clear areas, Coalition and Iraqi forces will build combat outposts and joint security stations into those places and then follow with CERP funds to improve governance and grow the local economy.

Phantom Phoenix “will synchronize lethal and non-lethal effects to exploit recent security gains and disrupt terrorist support zones and enemy command and control.”   The operation will include “a series of joint Iraqi and Coalition division and brigade level operations to pursue and neutralize remaining al-Qaeda in Iraq and other extremists.”  In addition, “the non-lethal aspects of this operation are designed to improve delivery of essential services, economic development and local governance capacity.”    

In the first three weeks of Phantom Phoenix 18 battalion-level operations were conducted detaining 1,023 terrorists and killing 121 others.  Among those captured or killed 92 were high value targets.  In addition, 351 weapons caches, 410 improvised explosive devices, three vehicle bomb and improvised explosive device factories, and four tunnel complexes were all found and cleared.