Closing the River Gate:

Oct. 6, 2005

USAF F-16s launched a GBU-38 against a pontoon bridge in the vicinity of Haditha, Iraq, to support the 2nd Marine Division for Operation River Gate. According to US Central Command, the goal of the operation is to deny al Qaeda-affiliated forces the ability to operate in the three Euphrates River Valley cities of Barwana, Haditha, and Haqlaniyah. Haditha is a hub for smuggling activities to and from the nearby Syrian border, say CENTCOM officials.

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