" ▁operation ▁was ▁the ▁longest ▁in fil tr ation ▁mission ▁since ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁and ▁the ▁longest ▁MC - 1 3 0 ▁Com bat ▁Tal on ▁I ▁in fil tr ation ▁in ▁history . ▁ ▁After ▁much ▁diplom atic ▁man eu ver ing , ▁Turkey ▁finally ▁allowed ▁American ▁over fl ights ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁March . ▁This ▁allowed ▁Task ▁Force ▁Vik ing ▁to ▁expand ▁to ▁ 5 0 ▁individual ▁Special ▁Forces ▁Oper ational ▁Det ach ments - Alpha ▁( OD As ) ▁( former ly ▁known ▁as ▁A - Te ams .) ▁Rein for cing ▁the ▁O D As ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁March , ▁the ▁ 1 7 3 rd ▁made ▁a ▁combat ▁jump ▁onto ▁Bash ur ▁air field , ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁Operation ▁Northern ▁Del ay , ▁ ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁" Green ▁Line ". ▁This ▁was ▁the ▁largest ▁air bor ne ▁assault ▁since ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁The ▁ 1 7 3 rd ▁assumed ▁the ▁security ▁mission ▁of ▁Bash ur ▁from ▁ 1 0 th ▁Group ▁O DA ' s ▁and ▁P esh mer ga , ▁receiving ▁the ▁air bor ne ▁insert ion ▁of ▁ 1 st ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁arm or ▁on ▁ 7 ▁April , ▁followed ▁by ▁the ▁ 2 6 th ▁Marine ▁Ex ped ition ary ▁Unit . ▁ ▁A ▁friendly ▁fire ▁incident ▁near ▁Pir ▁Da oud ▁on ▁Sunday , ▁ 6 ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁killed ▁ 1 8 ▁members ▁of ▁Task ▁Force ▁Vik ing ▁and ▁injured ▁ 4 5 . ▁An ▁F