Before dawn, Marines and Iraqi forces begin to infiltrate the region surrounding the city of Haditha. Soldiers on foot and in armored vehicles position themselves simultaneously in areas to the north, south and west of the city limits.

Troops of Marines land by helicopter on the eastside of the Euphrates River, where they search an island and secure a bridge to ensure insurgents have no route to escape. By blocking the bridge, half of Haditha’s border is now sealed.

The Marines on the east side secure a base of operations amongst the trees.

By nightfall, Marines and Iraqi Security forces establish checkpoints at every entrance and exit around the city. Haditha is fully cordoned off from the outside world.

Marines take to the streets in the dark of night, running patrols in straight lines that stretch the width of the roadways that cut through the city. The troops stop at houses along the way, some are used as a base of operations; all are thoroughly searched.

The first battle takes place, where six insurgents are killed and two Marines are wounded when an insurgent attacks a patrol in the city center with an AK-47 assault rifle. By the next day, four more insurgents are killed in separate engagements throughout the area.

Operation New Market ends with 12 insurgents dead and 30 more in custody.