Operation Iraqi Freedom - The Air War, Day 1 - Animated

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A-Day, the first day of the Air Offensive, begins. Stealth aircraft head to Baghdad to lay ruin to military targets and Saddam's palaces. Conventional aircraft then maraud into Iraq to hit SAM sites, radars, communications and military infrastructure, in an awesome display of Shock and Awe. By the end of the first day, 1700 sorties will have been conducted against the Iraqi Military and Saddam Hussein.
For context on the invasion, please watch Iraq War 2003 Explained - Why Bush and Blair Attacked Iraq on The Intel Report at • Iraq War 2003 Explaine...
/ the_ops_room
Music: www.purple-planet.com
Top down figures courtesy of Grantovich, check him out here: / grantovich

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Re-upload with a small correction - Would be massively helpful if you enjoy this video to perform a Comment and Like sacrifice to the algorithm gods!

[@jamesbirmingham9951]

Thank you for your high quality work!

[@TheOperationsRoom]

@watch-Dominion-2018 I accidentally said RAF Upper Heyford instead of RAF Fairford - both B-52-capable bases but one had closed!

[@t.n.h.ptheneohumanpatterna8334]

@@TheOperationsRoomhey I have a question do u plan on covering the Ukrainian conflict

[@Penske_Penguin]

Do some ancient but documents battles/wars (civil war, revolutionary, napoleon, etc)

[@kchristensen6283]

Done... Comment comment comment.

[@oldgoat142]

I wish I was able to add several more zeroes to this but this is what I can do. That's how valuable these videos are to me in spite of interference from others. Keep up the vital work.

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Thanks so much for the support. You're awesome

[@PhatCunt]

wish i could follow your example, but christmas time be a struggle, ur awesome

[@mustang1912]

No physical evidence for battle of Stalingrad. America lost the gulf war, failed basrah uprising too.

[@henrymeinz1644]

@mustang1912 no evidence for the battle of stalingrad???!??

[@oldgoat142]

@@henrymeinz1644 I think someone has been taking way too many bad mushrooms and/or other narcotics of questionable grade. No evidence for Stalingrad. Oy vey.

[@mightymcphee4228]

what a scary feat of power, the fact that these pilots consider the Air Defense systems of Baghdad (the same systems that are actively trying to shoot them out of the sky) as being pretty to look at without a single jet being hit is incredible.

[@Metaphix]

Saddam learned why Americans don't have health care

[@KevinJDildonik]

1) We don't have healthcare because we allow corrupt corporations to control our health care. This does not make us the good guys. 2) If the enemy was so weak and ineffectual, it wasn't much of an accomplishment defeating them. Saddam was a US ally for decades. We sold him a lot of his weapons.

[@fakecubed]

The Iraqi air defense systems at that point were quite old. American and British jamming was very sophisticated by comparison. I'd be surprised if any of those missiles even were capable of tracking the planes in the sky. And the triple-A was just firing at random. I'm sure there were other classified systems in the sky that night we don't know about. A big war like this is when everybody pulls out their special toys to debut.

[@thelordofcringe]

​@@fakecubedan sa6 is pretty scary even now.

[@MrChickennugget360]

whats crazy is how much improved the bombing was compared to 1991. I take it the Jamming capacity had grown enormously since 1991 so they no longer had to maneuver to avoid SAMs like in 1991. All the experience from 1991 must have given so much electronic knowledge that those Jamming pods made Iraqi Sams almost worthless.

[@mr.b4494]

You, Montemayor and Kings and Generals are perhaps my top favorite channels for military engagements and history. Keep up the high quality work. The fact that youtube demonetizes you for simply showing what happens is repulsive.

[@iivin4233]

Might I suggest some more? And you're right. Censorship is repulsive.

[@JohnPetrucci251]

Hypops is good too but hasn’t uploaded in a while

[@Aussiefps]

Epic history tv is up there too

[@kievbutcher]

​@@zacharytuttle5618Historigraph*, excellent channel.

[@2Links]

Epic History TV's Napoleon series is pretty good, and Historia Civilis' Rome series and the few episodes on Alexander are great too.

[@kelanelam2638]

You're continuing to knock it out of the park. You even took the time to animate rotating AWACS radomes! Love the attention to detail.

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Thanks for noticing 🤌🏻

[@alexparker4244]

But is the rotation rate accurate to the real radar?

[@Goofyahmc]

@kelanelam2638 what’s AWACS lol

[@jacp5628]

​@@GoofyahmcAirborne Warning And Control System, it's a Boeing 707 with a suite of electronic warfare and reconnaissance systems including a radar dish on the top meant to act as an air traffic controller and long-range recon platform

[@Goofyahmc]

@@jacp5628 ty

[@teddy.d174]

“I hope we’ve done a relatively good job”…..humbleness is a fantastic trait however, you and your team should be extremely proud. You and the team do an absolutely brilliant job sir. Your videos are in very small company as far as quality of production, detail and information, yet amazingly they still get better. Cheers for a job well done, Operations Room team.

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Very kind, thank you

[@outofturn331]

The British understatement you know

[@mayukhbasak163]

​@@TheOperationsRoom hey mate idk if it will get talent down by utube but can u do a video on the rise of ISIS and then their fall?

[@quietdignityandgrace]

KZbin: Don't do that! Creators: Don't do what? KZbin: Exactly

[@s4ss.m8]

Bro how smooooooth brained are these policies 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@potentiallyaheretic9281]

@@s4ss.m8In this case, I think KZbin is just in a position where it has a choice between pissing off its advertisers (its main source of income I believe) and screwing over content creators. In KZbin’s perspective, content creators are a dime a dozen so why would they care? They simply don’t profit from it and so they do stuff like this. They can’t control how content creators make their videos or edit them directly so they use a form of censorship to control what gets shown to the most people on the platform. In this way they are “media gatekeepers” or a least trying to be. This is found in a lot of other media, so it not uncommon or unexpected. But I absolutely agree that this is pretty despicable and that KZbin is overstepping its own authority as a public forum. By the way, my source for this comes from Agenda-Setting theory which, I recommend as a research topic.

[@s70driver2005]

Sometimes I really hate YT.

[@neoncat6820]

"you see, we can't tell you what you did wrong because you would try to get around those policies by following them"

[@quietdignityandgrace]

@@neoncat6820 You are soooo right I would. They never came at me for swearing yet. 7 1/2 years Zero strikes... until I just now opened my mouth about it. Bye?

[@chrisbingley]

A dude taking his camcorder on a bombing run, as if he's on holiday. Has to be the most American thing I have ever heard.

[@SumerAshur]

As an American/Iraqi who grew up during this war, I wish it upon no one. It was brutal, to say the least. There is some inaccurate info at the beginning of your amazing video, water and electricity were the first to get hit in Baghdad. I still remember we lived in Alsaydia which is near the main electricity grid of Baghdad and it got hit on the 2nd day.

[@WhatAboutYou123]

Former Iraqi ?

[@SumerAshur]

@WhatAboutYou123 Yes, I think I still have Iraqi citizenship. Never bothered to check

[@bolobalaman]

Sorry to hear that man. Hope u doing well now

[@SumerAshur]

@bolobalaman Yes sir. Moved here at 15 after the war and never looked back. I visited Iraq recently as I still have family there and took my American wife and kids with me. It is nothing like what it used to be pre-war, but it was fun being there and experiencing things from a foreigner's perspective! It is sad to know this war was for nothing years later, especially when you witness the amount of death firsthand! I lost family members during and especially after Iraq was handed by the US to the Irani regime. It gives you a newfound respect for life

[@WhatAboutYou123]

@@SumerAshur some say that the Iraqi state will cease to exist in a few years, suni,shia and kurds will establish their own sovereign states, do you think it is inevitable ?

[@danielj.4553]

Absolute quality and arguably the best channel for this sort of educational content. Love you guys, it's not much but a small gesture of thanks for the endless hours of content I've enjoyed from your hard work ❤

[@mile_381]

what currency is that?

[@danielj.4553]

@@mile_381 VND, Vietnamese dong :)

[@thebigd4532]

@@mile_381google says it’s about $8.25 💪 those able to keep donating are awesome.

[@Trome1200]

@@mile_381 Vietnamese Dong, about $8.26

[@liquidtunes]

That’s around 4 meals worth of food so it’s good and the gesture counts. Nice to see VND contributed..

[@venator4838]

KZbin is unfortunately just getting weirder by the day - just like the world out there... Keep up the great work!

[@sol2wit904]

When I told my friends about you, they've been so amazed by the beauty of the overview of battles and baffled by accuracy and made you your go- to channel to watch, greeting from Matt and Roger who are supporting you

[@electricbooga1oo617]

Love watching your content, although it’s a shame youtube/google doesn’t see it. The value of informing people of important battle with quality unbiased views of past events due to the sensitivity some people have over such topics I hope this donation though small is one of many to help show the support and love we all have for you, your channel and videos.

[@ZaGaijinSmash]

Keep it up! Amazing work. It’s impossible to imagine being a civilian in Baghdad that day. Must’ve been utterly terrifying.

[@outofturn331]

But they would have rested assured freedom was coming

[@ZaGaijinSmash]

@@outofturn331 And safety of course. No worries that the power vacuum left by that freedom would plunge to country into brutal chaos for decades to come.

[@saifalnuaimi204]

What freedom are you crazy 😂😂😂😂 ​@@outofturn331

[@Thomas_TdK]

For great content like this to keep being produced, i am willing to spend some money. Great video as always guys

[@YooMi-tx7ix]

You've just wasted money but props to you for donating him

[@rndomclipz2431]

@@YooMi-tx7ix shut the fuck up lil bro. Let people enjoy things oh my god.

[@mile_381]

​@@YooMi-tx7ixjealous cuz you dont have any

[@UxasAnimations]

​@@YooMi-tx7ixjealous

[@SgtMjr]

Simply the best channel of it's type. Proud to say I found it early and have enjoyed the content for years now. Cheers mates!

[@ConnerLeeMedia]

One of the best channels on the platform. Kudos to you and the team for sticking to it.

[@lhead85]

Good on you for re-uploading rather than leaving a mistake up. Love your videos, that graphical representation of the battles you cover must take a heck of a lot of effort to put together, and they're absolutely wonderful!

[@WhiteIkiryo-yt2it]

My dad served in both Gulf Wars with the RAF so I love anytime you do air war content. Awesome job to you and your team.

[@chawboy32]

Which planes did he fly?

[@ALIKN1-1]

I hope he will not burn in hell but that’s highly doubtful

[@Luke_Sandy_High_Ground]

@@ALIKN1-1 We only support western civilisation here

[@anguswaterhouse9255]

@@ALIKN1-1 Fuck off, we all have hindsight now but at the time almost everyone believed the lies about the WMD's. You can't condemn every single person who fought in a war you disagree with, especially one built on lies pushed by the highest levels of government onto everyone else. You know who is burning in hell though? Saddam and all his cronies, because even though the war was unjustified for what it inflicted upon the Iraqi people, those bastards got what they had coming

[@godhimself478]

@@ALIKN1-1I hope you do to pal

[@wuhzaoski4081]

I grew up on the History channel, and was consequently very disappointed to see the direction it's gone. This channel provides even better quality than the history channel I'm nostalgic for! Bravo and keep 'em coming!

[@criminy_]

I'm honestly astonished at the sheer amount of detailed video content you already have on your channel, and you continue to upload more amazing content in spite of the difficulties with the platform. Bravo!

[@davidschiffer4448]

Another brilliant series. it is interesting to see an episode of an event that I was involved in though. One never really knows just how busy the airspace was. You are concerned about just your piece. This is the first time that I was aware of the scope of that night and the morning hours. You are fantastic, keep it up!

[@CHDunham123]

God this channel just gets better and better ... animation is so on point 👌🏼

[@Sinbrogan]

To all 15 people who run this account, I have taken for granted the amazing editing and scripts these videos have. After a while you just kinda become use to how great these videos are. Although with the beginning of this video, it made me think about it and made me feel like how I felt when I first found this account 2 or 3 ish years ago. Y’all keep up the hard work on editing and script making and all other things that go into KZbin videos. You guys are really killing it. Thank yall

[@koekiejam18]

Its always impressive that everytime i show my friends this channel they have already seen it (and love it) or they are deeply impressed by the effort and content in your videos! Amazing work as always

[@FrankBUILTperformance]

It’s amazing the lessons learned from Vietnam to the Gulf Wars (as far as air campaigns go nothing else lol). The total commitment to just bringing in overwhelming and continuing firepower and SEAD missions. Also keeping that tempo up for extended periods of time. Just the logistics and planning of this alone is wild.

[@Corristo89]

"Amateurs talk strategy and professionals talk logistics" is a quote that fits perfectly. Look at what happened when Russia just threw its military at Ukraine in 2021. Tanks ran out of fuel, planes lacked fuel, soldiers had to resort to looting and foraging, etc.

[@paulbrooks4395]

I love your videos. I think the best feature that you have used since I first saw this channel was the zoom to-unit or person PoV moments. Hearing the words of the combatants or background detail is fantastic.

[@anysnail6390]

I never knew there were so many sorties in just one day. This is such high quality content.

[@xxrodrexx3813]

OperationsRoom now dropping another well made series, another boredom killer for me

[@simongr63]

Thank you for your continued documentary level productions!

[@larsw.9442]

This kind of content as well as its level of Quality it truly remarkable. Your coverage of the level of detail given the scale is amazing! It has been, and still is, a pleasure to watch your content. They are on par with some of the best military documentaries out there. Huge Thanks to you and the entire Team for sharing your work with us.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

Wonderful in-depth look at the Air-War. I have never gotten the detail before and it boggles my mind that someone could organise the data like this. Thank You so much.

[@jackyluuu7384]

Thanks guys. I love watching the Birds Eye view style videos. It helps to understand the battles more.

[@goaztek]

easily some of the best content on YT, thanks for all the hard work!

[@realbismarck]

Proud to be 1 in the now million people subscribed to you! God bless you for your content. Keep going man.

[@soral94]

Top tier content!! Consistent narration and beautiful diagrams. This is the stuff I will watch and re-watch. Thank you, O.R.

[@marek_vybiral]

The quality of the content you guys are producing is simply amazing. Keep good work!

[@SAMUELSKUWAR]

You, good sirs, are the best of the best when it comes down to relatively modern wars. I work in retail in a mall, and you have no idea how many people I've referred your channel to. This is one of my most favorite channels of all time, regardless of the streaming medium.

[@outofturn331]

Do the accounts tally at end of the day 😂

[@blhale1]

Thank very much, I've been enjoying your videos for some time now and tonight joined Patreon to help support you. Keep up the fantastic work guys!

[@FXGreggan.]

I can't even imagine how much research you must have done for all your videos, thank you for all your hard work!

[@joost00555]

I look at this and look back at the Desert Storm videos and see such improvement upon what were already very good videos. You guys keep impressing.

[@TODD_FL44]

Salute to the 15 person crew for sure. Stumbled upon this channel a little while back and surely glad I did. This Iraqi freedom series is great! 👍🏾👍🏾

[@robbabcock_]

The channel has undergone amazing growth and improvement since the beginning! Truly yours is one of the best on YT. It's disappointing that some of my favorite channels are peaking at a time when YT seems to be going down the tubes. Between the adblocker wars and the inane barrage of shorts, Google seems intent on trashing everything that once made YT great. Still, thanks for all you do to keep this platform relevant.

[@jeffbonekemper8163]

Excellent analysis and great graphics (as always). Keep up the grand work.

[@Nverzi]

Thank you guys for all the great work!!

[@TheLiamster]

I’ve seen this before but I’m watching it again

[@jeryld]

I remember watching your videos way back when and I always come back now and then to listen to your videos while studying. Keep it up and congrats on 1 MILLION!! 🙌🙌🙌

[@jonathanhawkins4544]

Great work. I love the graphics and especially the map traverse and zoom in and out. Well done!

[@alessandrocividati7795]

I've recently subbed and i'm going through all the videos in the channel. Amazing work guys

[@machielmarais]

Not Much, but its about what i can afford in this December time. Thanks for all the content over the years.

[@Wolfeson28]

Thank you so much for continuing to make these videos. The quality is always top-notch, and the content is always riveting.

[@papapabs175]

I absolutely love the format you guys use, always look forward to more episodes ❤️

[@mattblom3990]

Would love to see you guys do The Falklands. Yes, I know it was recently done by another channel, but it's the most interesting war besides WW2 in my opinion and it would be great to cover some of the smaller parts of that war. Such as the helicopter depth charging of the old Argentinian submarine, and some of the amazing hits the Argentinian fighter-bomber pilots got on the British task force.

[@thesonofno1]

Appreciate the content. Keep up the great work team!

[@hammerheadxray8152]

This channel is one of the best military channels on KZbin. They're able to accurately show you what they're talking about. Not static photos, but full on mapporn

[@jakeo6463]

Your work is hugely appreciated by myself and my fellow history teachers. Your team perfects visual spectacle entertainment, combined with valuable political-strategic information.

[@Thykerino]

Once again thanks for your effort and plz keep on going what your doing. u guys are the best!

[@Fatherofheroesandheroines]

Having actually been in this particular operation but only after they took Baghdad, this is near and dear to my heart.

[@stevephilips1175]

Outstanding presentation, particularly the logistical aspect of the 'shock & awe!"

[@Ducaso]

I love the Day by Day breakdown series! I am eagerly anticipating the next!

[@JS-ov1nb]

Great Video, as always.

[@HahahaHalihallo]

i was 22 mins into the first upload, but i'll watch again for you guys

[@jameswilkinson9964]

Great job with this series, thoroughly enjoyable and comprehensive.

[@MasterslayerG]

You guys do the beat at showing what happened so clearly and precise. Love it great job and congrats on the 1 mill 2 mill to come.

[@GeistView]

Had C-RAM equipment on top of the old Baath Party HQ building. Fascinating to see all the damage from the strike. The dome was under construction, just exposed concrete and rebar. Part of the roof did collapse and fell into the huge meeting hall underneath. It did take at least 2 cruise missile strikes, you can see the penetration holes with wing strikes on the sides. We put plywood over the holes so not to step into them and fall 7 stories. Under the dome became a huge trash pit.

[@jamsterrampster1059]

Thanks for the content

[@davidobrien2541]

Easily my favorite channel for its informative, well-made, historical accounts.

[@Galaar]

It's still weird seeing an operation I was a part of on this channel. USS Kitty Hawk was mostly used as a lilypad for air ops during this time and I ended up spending 102 consequitive days at sea becuase all port calls got cancelled. They'd tease a Bahrain visit a couple times, but the only thing we got were 2 beer days.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

It's always weird to me because I spent years of my life in Baghdad but never as a part of any actual 'battle' other than what the insurgents brought to us. Despite all the training at gunnery with my tank, warfare to me is through the lone frame of reference as a reactive thing. It was almost exclusively shooting back at whatever shot at us. Like imagine being an Imperial stormtrooper stationed on Tatooine tasked with looking for rebels and hoping you don't get blindsided in an ambush. That was my life for a long time lol.

[@joshberry4813]

Better than 1 beer day

[@Mike-zf4xg]

what's it like being a war criminal?

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

@@Mike-zf4xg What did it feel like surviving your abortion?

[@DeskJet1]

​@@Mike-zf4xgprobably feels great. I'd be a war criminal for those USAA loans.

[@LAPISTime25]

I was halfway through the original when it was taken down. Never had that happen before. l can now check that off my online bucket list! :D

[@TheOperationsRoom]

Apologies for that. I wanted it to be right!

[@87MasterJ]

Absolutley thrilling! Thank you so much for this major series!!!

[@Shadesight]

Thank you for making updated content like this!

[@TooLazyToFail]

Congrats on a million!

[@ericcrichardson]

Congrats on the Million Subs!

[@donchaput8278]

Your channel is OUTSTANDING! Amazing work and detail

[@andrewdorris3321]

I adore your presentation. Calm , simple accurate. Please keep making content

[@EnglishScripter]

Hey how much content is currently on the patreon? Just wondering because I really like your content, and obviously if there is more content too watch, would love to watch them.

[@ahnadm]

today, it is an Iranian satellite. mission accomplished I guess !

[@iandeas-xz1ww]

LOL

[@ELMS]

Another excellent piece. Love your videos and thrilled to see the growth of a quality channel.

[@VincentGroenewold]

What a shame, this is actual history that is valuable to everyone. I'm going for your Patreon, thanks for setting that up!

[@ONI_002]

i cant wait to watch this new, completely original, never before seen video!

[@0x80O0oOverfl0w]

Another great video from this channel. Thank you for doing your part in making the internet useful!

[@steves8482]

Excellent vid as always, thanks - congratulations on the million plus - you're a real Mega channel now!

[@cheweh842]

Amazing visualizations, I really like how the force movements become understandable. How close in scale are the aircraft speeds in the depictions of the strikes on targets? e.g., at 18:17 the F/A-18s drop their JDAMs. Are their flight speed relative to Karbala and the JDAM travel time close to what would have happened in real life? Seems like it could be--would be cool to know

[@SaintBrick]

Weapon flight time is very dependant on release conditions. Asumiung they were at altitude to avoid AAA fire, time to impact would be 18-40 seconds.

[@Gas_Station_Tampons]

Honestly, that screenshot at 1:00 is hilarious, sad & disgusting all at the same time. "You broke our rules, but we cannot tell you the rules" What a joke.

[@physicns]

Thank you, for all the time I spend on the Internet, the Operations Room is the only channel of which I’ve watched every single video.

[@benheal6466]

Love this series so far! I really enjoyed the desert storm series so great to see this!

[@Nick-bp7jf]

I have given a 'thumbs up' and subscribed. The censorship of historical fact is sinister in my opinion. Please keep producing your excellent content.

[@TravisMcClellan-be7sw]

I think the pilot meant to say looks like a scene out of the movie “Independence Day” not Armageddon

[@bigphilnyc]

Congrats on breaking 1mil. So very deserved. No television documentary program has ever made this stuff as interesting as you do. Engaging, accurate, digestible, entertaining, no fat. I almost want to buy my 70yo Dad a laptop just so he can watch your channel.

[@mikedittsche]

Awesome cobtent as always. Yours is one of the few channels on this platform whose every single video upload I have seen.

[@Roboute-Guilliman]

Love these series

[@hoplophobia7014]

The oddest part of this for me is that the first day after I crossed the border I didn’t get shot at or the like, day two was insane, non stop

[@johnsbirthdayinapril4197]

I love your channel and the intel report also, by far some of my favorite channels on youtube. I have found that my public education has skimmed over so many details (or included a good dose of nationalism), especially when it has come to war, and your channel has helped me to better understand some of these conflicts, the motivations, and get just a glimpse of real hero’s in action. Thank you!

[@outofturn331]

That's why "facts" can be hard to verify or digest

[@MischeifMakerz]

Been waiting for this video for the past couple days, yesssssss!! 🎉🎉 🙌🏼 👍🏻 👏🏼

[@TheHunterstriker]

The mix of professionalism and planning with sheer pettiness from the planners is awe inspiring. You're coordinating one of the largest air campaigns in history, and you task four multi million dollar jets to sink a damn yacht

[@tadferd4340]

It wasn't pettiness. They were trying to disable all possible transportation options available to Saddam Hussein.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

Absolutely fantastic work again, as usual!

[@JCon1015]

Well done! One of my favorites so far.

[@lagboi4539]

I'm just going to watch this again. I guess I'm addicted to these

[@kolamber94]

Thank you guys for your awesome content! You are truly top notch! I’m so glad that I found this channel. You are a treasure! Hello from Russia!

[@HamSandwich277]

Congrats on the 1 million! Well deserved!