Operation Bayonet Lightning was a military operation during the early stages of the Iraq War, that was held to capture weapons, materials, and people who posed a threat against coalition forces. The joint operation between Iraq and the United States, lasted approximately 16 hours, and was conducted on 2 December 2003. 1,200 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the 4th Infantry Division, and Iraqi military participated. Operation Bayonet Lightning was concentrated on Al Hawija, Iraq, and the village of Rashad, Iraq, sixty kilometers, or thirty-seven miles, to the south of Kirkuk, Iraq. Overview During Operation Bayonet Lightning, coalition forces located and confiscated sixty-two AK-47 assault rifles, two hundred rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one rocket propelled grenade launcher and two improvised explosive device-making kits. Twenty six individuals were captured, including three targeted individuals, Saad Mohammed ad-Douri, the private secretary of Izzat Ibrahim ad-Douri, and Hamid Saad, a senior official of Saddam Hussein's former ruling Ba'ath Party in charge of youth and student affairs, and a former general of the disbanded Iraqi Army. Operation Bayonet Lightning followed Operation Rifles Blitz and was followed by Operation Bulldog Mammoth. See also Iraq War-related articles Iraq War List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War Iraq-related articles Iraq History of Iraq Terrorism and insurgency-related articles Terrorism Iraqi insurgency Suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003 Bombings and terrorist attacks of the Iraq War Terrorist attacks of the Iraq War Casualties-related articles United States casualties of war Post-traumatic stress disorder Iraq Body Count project Violence against academics in post-invasion Iraq References External links Defend America News Military operations of the Iraq War involving the United States Military operations of the Iraq War involving Iraq Military operations of the Iraq War in 2003 Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)