Operation Thunderclap

Operation Thunderclap was a military offensive conducted by the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps in 2004 during the Iraq War. Its goal was to clear insurgents from neighborhoods in Baghdad’s Sadr City, a volatile area with a large population of Shiite residents. The operation involved coordinated aerial and ground assaults to establish security, dismantling insurgent networks, and restoring order. It aimed to weaken enemy control, reduce violence, and improve living conditions for civilians. The operation combined tactical precision with efforts to promote stability and pave the way for broader reconstruction and governance.