Battle of Debecka Pass

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Battle of Debecka Pass
Part of 2003 Invasion of Iraq
Date 6–7 April 2003 Location Erbil Governorate, Iraq 35°53′03″N 43°47′02″E / 35.88417°N 43.78389°E / 35.88417; 43.78389 Result U.S. and Peshmerga victory
Belligerents
United States Peshmerga	Iraq
Strength
26 U.S. Special Forces Operators 3 Air Force Combat Controllers 2 Military Intelligence Operators about 150 Kurdish fighters	A motorized company (about 100 soldiers)
Casualties and losses
4 wounded 18 killed, 45 wounded (friendly fire)	2 T-55 tanks, 8 armoured personnel carriers, 4 troop trucks, unknown number of soldiers killed, 20 captured

The Battle of Debecka Pass (Dibagah, Dibege, دیبه‌گه) on 6–7 April 2003, sometimes known as the Battle of Debecka Ridge or Debecka Crossroads, or otherwise referred to as the Alamo of the Iraq War, was a successful operation launched by U.S. Special Forces to secure a major crossroads near the village of Debecka (Dibege, دیبه‌گه in Kurdish), between Mosul and Kirkuk in northern Iraq. It was notable for its use of the Raytheon/Lockheed-Martin Javelin anti-tank missile. The weapon demonstrated how lethal and crucial technology can be in determining the outcome of a battle. The light unarmored SOF and Peshmerga (KDP) force faced a mechanized force of Iraqi infantry and tanks. The US and KPD force was able to defeat the Iraqi mechanized infantry & tank force with combined air-to-ground strikes, superior maneuvering, and the use of the Javelin missiles.