Operation Ultra Magnus: Breaking al-Qaeda’s Grip in Diyala

Overview

The Battle for Hussein Hamadi

Operation Ultra Magnus unfolded in late October 2007 in southern Diyala province, Iraq. The focal point of the mission was the village of Hussein Hamadi, which had become one of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s (AQI) most entrenched strongholds. For months, the village had served as both a headquarters and a logistical hub for militants launching attacks across the region.

Coalition and Iraqi forces recognized that clearing Hussein Hamadi was essential to breaking AQI’s influence in Diyala, and so Operation Ultra Magnus was launched.

Sgt. 1st Class James Tembrock of Troop C, 2-1 Cavalry Regiment, fires his M-4 during a firefight near an AQI safehouse south of Hussein Hamadi on Oct. 29, 2007. Coalition forces killed four militants using the home as a base for attacks in southern Diyala

Why Hussein Hamadi Mattered

The village was more than a hideout; it was a command node for AQI. Fighters used Hussein Hamadi to stockpile weapons, stage ambushes, and enforce extremist laws on the local population. Its location along key routes allowed AQI to move supplies and fighters between rural areas and Baqubah, the provincial capital. Securing this area was vital to disrupting AQI’s ability to operate in the wider province.

Timing of the Offensive

Operation Ultra Magnus came at a turning point in 2007. It was part of the broader Operation Phantom Thunder, a multi-division surge offensive launched to weaken AQI in Baghdad, Diyala, and beyond. By late October, U.S. and Iraqi commanders had already applied heavy pressure on insurgents in Baqubah during Operation Arrowhead Ripper earlier that summer. Ultra Magnus represented the next push—clearing out remaining sanctuaries where fleeing militants had regrouped.

Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Troop C, 2-1 Cavalry Regiment, provide security during a patrol halt in a palm grove on the outskirts of Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 30, 2007

Joint Coalition-Iraqi Effort

The mission was not carried out by U.S. forces alone. Soldiers from Task Force Iron—specifically Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division—worked side by side with Iraqi troops from the 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division. This partnership reflected a growing emphasis on combined operations, designed not only to remove insurgents but also to build the capacity of the Iraqi Army to hold cleared areas afterward.

Task Force Iron and Iraqi Army Collaboration

Coalition Lead: Task Force Iron

The U.S. Army’s Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, part of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (Task Force Iron), 2nd Infantry Division, spearheaded the operation. Task Force Iron had developed a reputation for mobility and adaptability, making it well-suited for the mission to penetrate and clear entrenched al-Qaeda positions in Diyala province.

Spc. Billy Cassis, Sgt. Brandon Dean, and other Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2-1 Cavalry Regiment, walk away from a vehicle they destroyed near an insurgent safehouse south of Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 29, 2007. The vehicle had been used by al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives to launch attacks in the area

Iraqi Army Partnership

Alongside Task Force Iron, Iraqi soldiers from the 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division played a central role. Their participation underscored the growing capability of the Iraqi Army in joint combat operations and helped reinforce the mission’s legitimacy among the local population.

Combined Strengths

The partnership between U.S. and Iraqi units allowed for complementary strengths: U.S. forces provided advanced technology, firepower, and intelligence assets, while Iraqi soldiers contributed local knowledge, cultural awareness, and the ability to secure the area after the fighting subsided. Together, the combined force created a powerful front against AQI’s entrenched fighters.

Iraqi Army 1st Sgt. Ghafil Mahdy, 3rd Company, 3-2-5 Iraqi Army Division, searches a home in Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, for weapons on Oct. 29, 2007, during Operation Ultra Magnus

Clearing Operations Begin

Initial Air Assaults

On the first day of Operation Ultra Magnus, coalition forces launched coordinated air assaults into surrounding villages, including Sayyid Awwad and Abu Seyah. These strikes disrupted al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) networks and forced many militants to abandon their forward positions, retreating north toward Hussein Hamadi—the operation’s central target.

Disrupting AQI Movements

The rapid pressure from Task Force Iron and Iraqi Army units prevented AQI fighters from regrouping or establishing defensive lines. By cutting off escape routes and forcing insurgents into Hussein Hamadi, coalition forces deliberately funneled AQI into an area where they could be engaged directly.

Sgt. William Degenhardt, 2nd Platoon, Troop C, 2-1 Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, breaches a locked gate to a palm grove on the outskirts of Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 30, 2007, during Operation Ultra Magnus. AQI operatives had been using the grove to hide weapons and as a bed-down site

Liberation of a Captive

During the sweep of one of the villages, troops uncovered a makeshift AQI detention and torture site. Inside, they found and freed a prisoner who had been held captive. The discovery highlighted the brutality of AQI’s local control, while the rescue provided a symbolic victory early in the operation, reinforcing the mission’s importance to both the soldiers and the local population.

Securing Hussein Hamadi

Three Days of Fighting

From October 28 to 30, coalition and Iraqi forces advanced into Hussein Hamadi, the heart of AQI’s presence in southern Diyala. The fighting was intense, as militants used entrenched positions and safehouses to resist the offensive. Despite this, the coalition steadily pushed through the village, sector by sector.

U.S. Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2-1 Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, and Iraqi Army soldiers from 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, run past a burning vehicle in Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 29, 2007, during Operation Ultra Magnus. The joint mission cleared the village of al-Qaeda, killing five militants, wounding three, and detaining seven over three days

The Safehouse Firefight

One of the fiercest clashes occurred at an al-Qaeda safehouse, where coalition troops engaged in a firefight lasting nearly twenty minutes. The encounter showcased both the determination of AQI fighters to hold their ground and the tactical coordination of Task Force Iron and their Iraqi partners, who eventually overwhelmed the defenders.

Results of the Operation

By the conclusion of the battle for Hussein Hamadi, five AQI militants had been killed, three were wounded, and seven captured—including a suspected sniper. These losses further weakened AQI’s operational capability in Diyala. Notably, coalition forces sustained no casualties during the three-day clearance, underscoring both the effectiveness of planning and the success of joint U.S.–Iraqi coordination.

Cpl. Adam Margio and Spc. Randy Stevens of 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2-1 Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, engage al-Qaeda in Iraq fighters firing from trees near a safehouse south of Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Oct. 29, 2007, during Operation Ultra Magnus. Four militants were killed and one wounded during the raid

Weapons Seized from AQI

Cache Discovery

During the clearance of Hussein Hamadi, coalition forces raided an AQI safehouse that doubled as both a fighting position and a storage site. Inside, they uncovered a cache of weapons and munitions used to supply militants operating in the region.

Weapons Confiscated

The haul included three AK-47 rifles with 15 loaded magazines, a Soviet-designed RPK light machine gun, a pistol, and several hand grenades. These arms not only represented the immediate threat AQI posed in firefights but also underscored the group’s ability to maintain stockpiles for sustained insurgent activity.

Coalition forces seized three AK-47s, roughly 15 magazines, an RPK, a pistol, and several grenades from an al-Qaeda in Iraq safehouse south of Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Oct. 29, during Operation Ultra Magnus

Impact on AQI Operations

By removing these weapons from circulation, coalition forces not only weakened AQI’s capacity for short-term engagements but also disrupted their logistics. The seizure highlighted the importance of targeted raids in undermining the insurgency’s ability to rearm and resist clearance operations.

Relief for Civilians

Life Under AQI Control

Before Operation Ultra Magnus, Hussein Hamadi’s residents lived under harsh restrictions enforced by al-Qaeda in Iraq. Militants imposed extremist laws, forbidding smoking, banning the sale of produce, and threatening or punishing those who resisted. The village’s role as a weapons hub and staging ground also made daily life dangerous, with civilians caught in the shadow of AQI’s operations.

1st Lt. Ron Vinyard, platoon leader of 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, talks with a local villager in Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 29, during Operation Ultra Magnus. AQI had dominated the village for over two years, displacing residents, many of whom were eager to help coalition forces locate insurgent positions

Liberation and Immediate Changes

With coalition and Iraqi forces clearing the area, those restrictions quickly collapsed. Families could return to their routines without fear of sudden punishment, and community markets began to revive. The removal of AQI checkpoints also allowed residents greater freedom of movement, reconnecting them to neighboring villages.

Reconnecting with the Iraqi Government

The operation not only relieved the population from AQI control but also opened the door for renewed cooperation with the Iraqi state. Local leaders began reestablishing ties with the government, which provided both symbolic and practical reassurance that the village would not be abandoned after the fighting ended.

A Soldier from 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, shares a laugh with an Iraqi Army Soldier from 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division during a tactical pause in Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 30, during Operation Ultra Magnus

Part of a Broad Coalition Offensive

Operation Phantom Thunder Context

Operation Ultra Magnus was not an isolated mission but rather a component of Operation Phantom Thunder, a sweeping coalition offensive launched in mid-2007. Phantom Thunder targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq’s strongholds across multiple provinces, with Diyala serving as one of the most contested battlegrounds. The aim was to dismantle AQI’s safe havens, deny them mobility, and restore governance to areas long under militant control.

Ultra Magnus as a Case Study in Counterinsurgency

Ultra Magnus highlighted the tactical precision that defined successful operations during this period. By combining aerial assaults, intelligence-driven raids, and follow-on clearing actions, coalition forces effectively fractured AQI’s grip on Hussein Hamadi. The absence of coalition casualties despite intense firefights reflected both careful planning and superior execution.

During the three-day Operation Ultra Magnus in and around Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 28–30, Soldiers from Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Task Force Iron, from Fort Lewis, Wash., working alongside Iraqi Army soldiers, seized nearly 10 AK-47s, an RPK, a rocket launcher with over 10 rockets, three pistols, and several grenades

Coalition and Iraqi Army Integration

Perhaps most importantly, Ultra Magnus underscored the growing partnership between U.S. and Iraqi forces. Joint operations—such as the collaboration between Task Force Iron and the 5th Iraqi Army Division—showed the increasing competence of Iraqi units in conducting large-scale clearing operations alongside coalition troops. This integration was vital in not only achieving tactical victories but also laying the groundwork for sustainable security.

Strategic Significance

As part of Phantom Thunder, Ultra Magnus played a critical role in breaking AQI’s hold over Diyala. The operation demonstrated how synchronized offensives across Iraq could overwhelm insurgent networks, deny them sanctuaries, and deliver both immediate security gains and long-term momentum for coalition strategy.

First Lt. Ron Vinyard, platoon leader of 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Task Force Iron, from Fort Lewis, Wash., and an Iraqi Army soldier advance upstairs in a home in Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 29, during Operation Ultra Magnus. Over the three-day operation, coalition forces killed five AQI operatives, wounded three, and detained seven, including a suspected sniper, and also freed a kidnapped Iraqi who had been tortured

Conclusion: Legacy of Operation Ultra Magnus

Decisive Tactical Success

Operation Ultra Magnus marked a decisive step in the coalition’s campaign to reclaim Diyala province from al-Qaeda in Iraq. By targeting Hussein Hamadi—a critical AQI stronghold—coalition and Iraqi forces disrupted insurgent operations, seized weapons, and freed civilians from months of extremist rule. The mission showcased the effectiveness of joint operations, careful planning, and tactical precision, achieving objectives without sustaining coalition casualties.

Contribution to Strategic Goals

Beyond immediate battlefield success, Ultra Magnus also contributed to the broader strategic goals of Operation Phantom Thunder. It demonstrated that coordinated, multi-front operations could fracture insurgent networks and restore security to contested regions.

Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Task Force Iron, from Fort Lewis, Wash., return fire at al-Qaida in Iraq operatives shooting from trees near a safehouse south of Hussein Hamadi, Diyala province, Iraq, Oct. 29, during Operation Ultra Magnus

Strengthening Iraqi-Coalition Collaboration

The collaboration between U.S. troops and Iraqi Army units provided valuable lessons in building local capacity and fostering trust with the civilian population. This integration of forces was a key factor in the operation’s success.

Lessons for Counterinsurgency

For military planners, Ultra Magnus offered a blueprint for integrating intelligence, air support, and ground maneuver in counterinsurgency campaigns. Ultimately, the operation exemplified how precision, cooperation, and persistence could achieve both tactical and strategic gains in Iraq’s complex conflict environment.