Battles and Operations
The Surge, 2007
Announced: January 10, 2007. Additional forces: more than 20,000 soldiers and Marines. Commander: Gen. David Petraeus (from February 2007).
A change of strategy
The surge added forces, but its central change was strategic: securing the Iraqi population rather than primarily hunting insurgents and returning to large bases.
How it worked on the ground
- U.S. and Iraqi units lived in joint security stations and combat outposts inside neighborhoods.
- Concrete barriers protected markets and divided districts to stop car bombs and death squads.
- Awakening groups and Sons of Iraq were brought into local security.
- Iraqi forces grew in number and capability.
Results and costs
Violence declined significantly in the second half of 2007 and into 2008. The surge was costly: 2007 was among the deadliest years of the war for U.S. troops.
Debate
Historians continue to debate how much of the improvement came from the additional troops, the change of strategy, the Awakening, decisions by militias, or the sectarian separation that had already occurred. Most agree that all played a part.