Operation “Viking Hammer” Was Never the Real Mission? | Ep. 281
Retired Green Beret, Mark Grdovic shares the largely untold story of what came to be known as "Operation Viking Hammer", a 2003 U.S. Army Special Forces mission in northern Iraq that targeted the terrorist group Ansar al-Islam prior to the main invasion. Working alongside Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, 10th Special Forces Group conducted a coordinated assault on entrenched enemy positions in mountainous terrain near Halabja, following Tomahawk strikes. The operation dismantled Ansar al-Islam’s stronghold and secured the Kurdish region, enabling follow-on coalition operations deeper into Iraq.
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Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:05:58 - Favorite Quote
00:09:58 - Time Travel
00:14:56 - Bosnia Involvement
00:19:56 - Africa Missions
00:24:56 - 9/11 Impact
00:29:56 - Iraq Planning
00:34:56 - Kosovo Operations
00:39:56 - Complex Conflicts
00:44:56 - Liberia Evacuation
00:49:56 - Assured Response
00:54:56 - Post-9/11 Strategy
00:59:56 - Saddam Ties
01:04:56 - Invasion Plans
01:09:56 - Kurdish Relations
01:14:56 - Turkey Issues
01:19:56 - Border Crossing
01:24:56 - Cruise Missiles
01:29:56 - Enemy Attack
01:39:56 - AC-130 Support
01:44:56 - Dispersing Teams
01:49:56 - Psychological Warfare
01:54:56 - Surrender Messages
01:59:56 - Ansar Fight
02:04:56 - Zarqawi Escape
02:09:56 - Kirkuk Occupation
02:14:56 - City Liberation
02:19:56 - White House Role
02:24:56 - Bush Katrina
02:29:56 - Iraq Reflections
02:34:56 - Ukraine Impact
02:39:56 - NATO Stance
02:44:56 - Intervention Morals
02:49:56 - Nuclear Threat
02:54:56 - National Guard
02:59:56 - Border Policies
03:04:56 - Military Posture
03:09:56 - Closing Remarks
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