Operation Marne Fortitude I was an enduring plan by Multi-National Division-Center (MND-C) to carry out a counter-insurgency campaign against Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and Shi’ite militias in the areas to the south and east of Baghdad.

Operation Marne Fortitude involved a series of monthly offensives to result in Coalition successes throughout the MND-C’s area of operations. These successes were buttressed by a grassroots movement among Iraqis who rejected the various extremist groups resulted in over 27,000 volunteers for Concerned Local Citizens groups (now called “Sons of Iraq“) in their area.

The Concerned Local Citizens groups provided very useful actionable intelligence that allowed Coalition forces to avoid ambushes and IED strikes and to undertake raids that have detained and killed numerous insurgent operatives and uncovered numerous insurgent weapons caches.

Operation Marne Fortitude I was followed by Operation Marne Fortitude II