Operation/Patrol Time:
0600 Charlie (UTC+3), 01JUN25
Weather/Forecast Information:
Current temp: 78 degrees F, 23% humidity, 0% precipitation, 18 mph wind speed.
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
0% cloud cover. Sunrise at 0553 and sunset at 1940.
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
No militant faction is expected to possess anti-air capability at this time. No known BLUFOR or INDFOR flight missions have been logged over today's AO.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
As described in the intelligence packages that have been distributed over the last 48-72 hours, despite U.S. forces achieving a conventional victory over the Sons of Al-Karbouli through Operation Desert Fury in early 2024, the Iraqi government has failed to provide a solution to the grievances of the Sunni population and regain legitimacy and control over the Al-Anbar Governorate, particularly the Anizay region. As a result, remnants of the SoAK have splintered into at least 5 known militant factions that have been covertly working to undermine the Iraqi government and stir unrest, until the UN convoy ambush 2 days ago.
The goal of Operation Dust Devil is now to contain and destroy these splinter factions, known and unknown, and restore stability to the region via both strength of arms and political avenues. Civilian support, especially of the Sunni population, is therefore paramount to the success of this deployment.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
The recent ambush on a UN convoy near COP Morgan suggests the most dominant militant faction currently within the sector - if not the entire region - is the Swords of Tarhid, with tactical and technical support from the Al-Fulisan Brigade. The SoT are ISIS affiliated, suspected to have connections to local religious authorities, and are themselves religious extremists, while the AFB are ex-military, and have tactical and IED technical expertise. Other factions may or may not be present in today's AO.
All troopers must be cognizant of opportunities to gather intelligence regarding all known and unknown militant factions, and submit them via the Found Intelligence Reports system. Intelligence is especially important in COIN, and the outcome of this deployment may just rely on the efforts of a single man or woman with a keen eye.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
The UN ambush site is situated near the village of Dehqobad, ~1.5km to the West of TFC's AO. While the UN Mine Action Service has cleared the site where the ambush took place and the route to and from the ambush site to COP Morgan, troopers are still advised to be on the lookout for IEDs that may have been placed during the gap between the UN evacuating and the 506th arriving, especially along MSR Lima and ASR Juliet.
