Operation Desert Shield

A 2006 operation by the Iraqi insurgency, Operation Desert Shield was planned in December 2005 as a push against American troops in the Iraq War hoping to destabilize their position in the Anbar province over the following six months. The planning of the operation wasn't discovered by Americans until documents captured after the death of Faris Abu Azzam were finally translated, and revealed the details of the operation. The army said the documents surprised them, showing that the insurgents had a "pretty robust command and control system". The first phase, scheduled from January through March 2006, focused on isolating American targets by attacking supply convoys, destroying bridges and restricting the ability of helicopters to provide...