Operation Starlite 2006: 1-33 CAV's Fight in Salah ad Din

Strategic Context: Summer Surge and Sectarian Flames

The al-Askari Mosque Bombing and Its Fallout

By mid-2006, Iraq teetered on the edge of full-scale civil war. The spark came on February 22, when Sunni extremists bombed the revered al-Askari Mosque in Samarra—a sacred Shi’a shrine. The attack unleashed a torrent of sectarian reprisals, with Shi’a militias and Sunni insurgents engaged in a brutal cycle of retaliation. Across the country, Baghdad’s neighborhoods became battlegrounds, and provinces like Diyala and Salah ad Din descended into chaos.

Soldiers with 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division take cover during a firefight with insurgents in Operation Starlite—a nine-day mission through Salah ad Din Province, Iraq

Salah ad Din: A Flashpoint of Resistance

Among Iraq’s most combustible regions was Salah ad Din Province. Rich in symbolism and deeply entrenched in Ba'athist loyalties—being home to Saddam Hussein's birthplace of Tikrit—the province became a key base of operations for Sunni insurgent groups. Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), former Ba’athists, tribal militias, and criminal networks all vied for influence and territory. The result was a deadly insurgency that threatened Coalition supply routes, Iraqi infrastructure, and the fragile local governments trying to take root.

Enter the Rakkasans: Applying Pressure in the North

In response to the rising violence, U.S. commanders sought to push back hard against insurgent sanctuaries outside major urban centers. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 101st Airborne Division—nicknamed the “Rakkasans”—was deployed to the region with a mandate to conduct aggressive counterinsurgency operations. Their goal was twofold: deny insurgents freedom of movement and bolster Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in preparation for a nationwide handover of responsibility.

1st Lt. Christopher Sylvain of 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, runs for cover during a gun battle with Anti-Iraqi Forces in Operation Starlite

Operation Starlite: A Focused Offensive Begins

One of the centerpiece actions of this summer campaign was Operation Starlite, launched in early July 2006 by the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment (1-33 CAV), a reconnaissance and security force integral to the Rakkasans' maneuver strategy. Named after the famous 1965 Marine Corps assault in Vietnam—but distinct in purpose and context—this iteration of Operation Starlite targeted insurgent activity in the rural outskirts of Ad-Dawr, Al-Alam, and Tikrit.

The nine-day operation was designed as a deliberate sweep-and-clear mission, combining intelligence-driven raids, route interdiction, and joint patrols with Iraqi Army units. The aim was to flush out insurgent cells that were staging ambushes, burying improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and coordinating attacks on Iraqi and U.S. convoys moving along key supply routes. As part of the broader “summer surge” across northern Iraq, Operation Starlite served as both a tactical strike and a show of force in a province where insurgents once operated with impunity.

Van Tuong, Vietnam (Aug. 1965) – Vietcong prisoners await transport by helicopter to the rear area following Operation Starlite

The Mission Begins: Cavalry in the Countryside

New Colors, Same Spirit: 1-33 CAV Reflagged and Reforged

By summer 2006, the U.S. Army’s transition to a modular force structure was in full swing. The 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment (1-33 CAV)—newly reflagged from its legacy as the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry—emerged as a key reconnaissance and security asset within the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. Though its patch and designation were new, its soldiers carried the hard-earned ethos of the “Iron Rakkasans,” forged in countless firefights across Iraq and Afghanistan.

With this new configuration came a new operational challenge: root out insurgents entrenched in the sprawling farmlands and remote villages of Salah ad Din Province. Unlike the dense urban warfare of Baghdad or Fallujah, this was a different kind of battlefield—one where enemies blended into the civilian population, moved by night, and used the terrain to their advantage.

Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division move toward a bombed-out building to search for insurgents who had attacked their patrol during Operation Starlite

Lt. Col. Michael Steele Takes the Reins

Leading the cavalry was Lt. Col. Michael Steele, a name already etched into U.S. military history. As a company commander during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu—later immortalized in Black Hawk Down—Steele was known for his intensity, tactical acumen, and battlefield tenacity. Now in Iraq, he brought that same ethos to 1-33 CAV, pushing his troopers to stay aggressive, stay mobile, and stay vigilant.

Under Steele’s command, the mission wasn’t just about presence—it was about pressure. Pressure on insurgent supply lines, pressure on local sympathizers, and pressure on any node supporting anti-Iraqi forces (AIF).

High Tempo, Deep Push: Into the Villages

Beginning around June 30, 2006, 1-33 CAV launched its sweep through Salah ad Din’s rural belt. Mounted patrols rumbled through narrow irrigation routes and dusty farm roads, while dismounts fanned out on foot to comb mud-brick compounds and livestock pens. Their objectives were threefold:

Identify and destroy weapons caches.

Capture or neutralize known insurgents.

Deny safe haven to AIF operating in and around Tikrit and Ad-Dawr.

Each day brought new intelligence, new raids, and new dangers. The enemy didn’t mass for battle—they waited in alleys, laid IEDs, and slipped through networks of informants and tribal connections. But 1-33’s troopers matched this with relentless maneuver and unpredictable tempo.

Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division survey a bombed-out building following a firefight with insurgents who had occupied the home during Operation Starlite

The Sheep Fur Cache: A Glimpse Into the Enemy’s Tactics

One particular raid would come to symbolize the hidden nature of the fight. During a search of a suspected insurgent’s home, soldiers uncovered a cache of weapons and ammunition concealed inside bags of sheep fur—a tactic that highlighted the enemy’s ingenuity and their deep integration into local rural life.

It was more than just a clever hiding spot; it was a clear signal that the insurgents were willing to exploit every aspect of the civilian environment to maintain their advantage. For the cavalrymen of 1-33, it was a stark reminder that this was not just a war of bullets—it was a war of wits, trust, and persistence.

Fighting Fire With Steel: Contact and Firefights

From Patrols to Engagements: When the Enemy Chose to Stand

While Operation Starlite’s primary objectives centered on raids and reconnaissance, combat was never far behind. As 1-33 CAV’s tempo intensified, insurgents responded—not with full-scale resistance, but with hit-and-run ambushes, sniper fire, and roadside IEDs designed to blunt the squadron’s momentum.

In multiple locations across Salah ad Din, the mission escalated from house searches to firefights in narrow alleys and open fields. Insurgents—often operating in small, dispersed cells—engaged from rooftops, behind earthen berms, and from windows within mud-brick homes. These were not stand-up fights in the traditional sense, but fluid and chaotic exchanges of fire in terrain that favored the defender.

Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division take cover during a gun battle with Anti-Iraqi Forces during Operation Starlite.

Airpower on Call: The Aerial Reaction Force

To maintain the initiative, 1-33 CAV made full use of Aerial Reaction Forces (ARFs). Helicopters—most notably UH-60 Black Hawks for troop movement and OH-58D Kiowa Warriors for close aerial surveillance and fire support—proved decisive.

When insurgents broke contact and attempted to flee across fields or orchards, Kiowa pilots coordinated with ground elements to track and suppress movement. In one documented firefight, insurgents fled into a palm grove after engaging a U.S. patrol. Within minutes, the Kiowas were overhead, guiding dismounted troopers through the undergrowth while laying down suppressive fire.

The air-ground coordination was a textbook example of how cavalry units adapted fast-paced maneuver warfare to the decentralized insurgent threat.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, provides aerial support for Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division during Operation Starlite

Tagtag: Alleyways and Ambushes

In the village of Tagtag, a 1-33 CAV element encountered one of the operation’s more intense engagements. As Soldiers advanced down a narrow corridor of cinderblock walls and mud huts, gunfire erupted from a rooftop ahead. A team leader dropped to a knee behind a low wall, weapon shouldered, scanning for muzzle flashes. His team fanned out behind him, returning fire as others flanked through adjacent yards.

Urban clutter, blind corners, and the ever-present risk of civilians added to the challenge. Despite the chaos, the troopers kept their discipline—clearing rooms, marking threats, and moving with practiced precision honed from prior deployments.

Specialists in Action: Snipers and Forward Observers

Key to these engagements were the specialized assets embedded in each troop:

Snipers provided overwatch from rooftops or high ground, identifying and neutralizing threats before they could engage patrols.

Forward Observers (FOs) coordinated with aerial assets and artillery, prepared to call in indirect fire if escalation demanded it.

Quick Reaction Platoons (QRFs) stood ready to reinforce units in contact within minutes, often arriving by Black Hawk or armored Humvee to swing the momentum.

These enablers turned what might have been a prolonged firefight into a short, decisive engagement in favor of U.S. forces.

Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division finish clearing a home during Operation Starlite, a nine-day mission in Salah ad Din Province aimed at rooting out Anti-Iraqi Forces

Minimizing Civilian Harm, Winning Local Trust

One of the operation’s greatest achievements wasn’t just measured in detained insurgents or seized weapons—it was in the restraint shown during combat. Civilian casualties remained minimal due to 1-33 CAV’s commitment to discriminate targeting, grounded in real-time intelligence and local tips.

In at least two cases, residents quietly approached interpreters with information on where insurgents were storing explosives or hiding after firefights. This shift—however tentative—signaled growing trust between local Iraqis and U.S. forces, and proved that security gains could translate into intelligence dividends.

Sustaining the Fight: Life in the Field

Forward Operating by Necessity

During Operation Starlite, there were no fixed bases with showers or chow halls. The Soldiers of 1-33 Cavalry Regiment lived and operated from ad hoc patrol bases deep in Salah ad Din’s contested countryside. Vacant schoolhouses, half-constructed buildings, and even commandeered farm compounds became makeshift strongholds—offering little more than a roof overhead and a defensible perimeter.

Inside these improvised bases, Soldiers built fighting positions with sandbags and concertina wire, cleared entryways, and established radio checkpoints. Each base was both a tactical launch point and a vulnerable target, requiring 24/7 security rotations and constant vigilance.

Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division wrap up a day of combat operations during Operation Starlite, a nine-day mission in Salah ad Din Province targeting Anti-Iraqi Forces

Austere Conditions and Adaptation

The daily routine was grueling. Troopers rotated through missions with little rest, catching sleep on concrete floors or inside vehicles when time allowed. Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) were the standard diet—eaten cold more often than hot—and water bottles doubled as sinks, showers, and heat shields under the blazing Iraqi sun.

In one widely circulated photo from the operation, exhausted cavalrymen can be seen gathered around a kerosene heater, their faces streaked with dirt and sweat, trading dry humor and passing the time with playing cards or letters from home. Such moments, however brief, provided a psychological buffer against the operation’s relentless tempo.

Logistics Under Pressure

Keeping forward elements supplied required careful coordination. Combat logistics patrols—often mounted in up-armored HMMWVs and guided by route clearance teams—pushed out from larger bases to bring ammunition, water, fuel, and medical supplies. These convoys risked IEDs and small arms fire just to deliver basic necessities.

Despite the danger, logistics held. Maintenance teams kept vehicles rolling, medics rotated through positions to check on trooper health, and supply NCOs ensured units didn’t run dry in the middle of the fight.

Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division take cover during a firefight with insurgents in Operation Starlite

Morale and the Mission

What sustained morale wasn’t comfort—it was clarity of purpose. Many Soldiers in 1-33 CAV were on their second or even third tours. They had fought in Mosul, Samarra, and Tal Afar. They understood the landscape, the enemy, and—most critically—the stakes.

With insurgents expected to escalate attacks around July 4th and during key Iraqi political transitions, Operation Starlite wasn’t viewed as just another patrol—it was a preemptive strike to stop the next wave of car bombs, ambushes, or political assassinations. That sense of urgency lent weight to every raid and resilience to every hardship.

Results and Takeaways

Mission Accomplished: Tactical Gains Across the Board

By the time Operation Starlite concluded around July 9, 2006, the Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment had achieved clear tactical successes. Over the course of nine days, they captured numerous suspected insurgents, many of whom were tied to bomb-making operations, weapons smuggling, or logistical support for anti-Iraqi forces.

They also uncovered and destroyed several weapons caches, including small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and components for improvised explosive devices. These efforts significantly weakened the operational capabilities of local insurgent groups in the Salah ad Din countryside. Just as critical, the cavalrymen improved area security in key villages—particularly Tagtag and Sudayera—where insurgent intimidation had previously gone unchallenged. By operating in areas long written off by the Iraqi government, 1-33 CAV reestablished a Coalition presence and offered a degree of protection many residents had not seen in years.

Soldiers of the Aerial Reaction Force, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, participate in Operation Starlite, a nine-day mission in Salah ad Din Province, Iraq

Tactical Success, Strategic Significance

Although Starlite lasted just over a week, its impact rippled well beyond the tactical level. The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of combined arms maneuver executed by company- and platoon-level units. Infantry, scouts, snipers, engineers, and aviation assets coordinated seamlessly, responding to shifting threats with agility and discipline. Their ability to transition between hard contact, stability patrols, and humanitarian engagements highlighted the adaptability demanded by modern counterinsurgency warfare.

Forward-deployed patrol bases and sustained presence in small communities proved essential. By embedding among the population, 1-33 CAV not only forced insurgents to scatter but also opened channels of communication with local civilians. Intelligence gleaned during the operation helped shape future missions, while Coalition forces’ willingness to engage respectfully helped build fragile but meaningful trust.

Contributing to the Bigger Picture

Operation Starlite did not transform the province overnight, but it made a measurable contribution to the Coalition's broader stabilization campaign in Salah ad Din. It disrupted insurgent activity during a critical window and laid the groundwork for follow-on operations aimed at securing the region during the volatile summer months.

Perhaps most importantly, Starlite reinforced a key lesson in the Iraq War: that enduring success hinges not just on the elimination of threats, but on the relationships built in their wake. In that sense, 1-33 CAV’s mission was more than a tactical sweep—it was a demonstration of presence, resilience, and purpose.

Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division clear a room to speak with a local farmer during Operation Starlite

Legacy of Operation Starlite (2006)

A Crucible for Agile Warfare

Though smaller in scale than larger campaigns like Operation Phantom Thunder, Operation Starlite stood out as a vivid example of how agile, decentralized operations could yield significant tactical advantages. For 1-33 Cavalry Regiment, Starlite was an early and important proving ground in their Iraq deployment. The operation demonstrated the squadron’s ability to adapt quickly, operate independently, and apply aggressive tactics with precision in a highly fluid and dangerous environment.

Reviving the Cavalry Tradition

Operation Starlite also marked a return to the traditional roles of cavalry units—reconnaissance, shock action, and rapid maneuver—updated for the complexities of modern counterinsurgency warfare. The troopers leveraged their mobility and reconnaissance skills to seek out insurgent networks hidden within the rural landscape, while using swift strikes to disrupt enemy operations. This blend of classic cavalry tactics with contemporary COIN (counterinsurgency) doctrine became a hallmark of 1-33 CAV’s approach throughout their Iraq tour.

Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the 5-101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, support Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division during Operation Starlite

Impact Beyond the Battlefield

While the operation itself was tactical in nature, its legacy extended into the strategic realm. By disrupting insurgent activity in Salah ad Din Province, Starlite helped create the conditions necessary for fragile political processes to advance—whether through elections or efforts at local governance. The operation’s success contributed to the broader U.S. mission of stabilizing Iraq during one of the most turbulent periods of the war.

Ultimately, Operation Starlite’s legacy lies in its demonstration of how well-trained, disciplined cavalry units could operate effectively in complex insurgent environments, setting the stage for future missions that required a combination of firepower, mobility, and community engagement.

Closing Thoughts

In the crucible of Salah ad Din’s dusty farms and dangerous alleys, the troopers of 1-33 Cavalry Regiment proved their mettle time and again. Their relentless patrols, precision raids, and unwavering commitment showcased why they earned a reputation as one of the most respected units within the 101st Airborne Division. While Operation Starlite may not hold a prominent place in popular memory, for those who served, it was a defining chapter—one that encapsulated the gritty, unforgiving nature of the Iraq War, fought village by village, raid by raid. Through their actions, these cavalrymen embodied the enduring spirit and tactical ingenuity that shaped the course of the conflict.