BASRAH, Iraq - An Iraqi air force helicopter launches flares over an objective at Khor az-Zubayr, April 28, during Operation Lion's Leap, the largest joint-military exercise in the recent history of Iraq's security forces. The one-hour exercise, whic...

BASRAH, Iraq - Iraqi special forces commandos with the 6th Regional Commando Battalion prepare to assault an objective during Operation Lion's Leap at Khor az-Zubayr, April 28, after being dropped off by Iraqi air force helicopters. Lion's Leap was t...

BASRAH, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces gathered at Khor az-Zubayr, Iraq, April 28, to witness one of the largest joint-military exercises in ISF history.

Operation Lion's Leap, which combined Iraqi army, navy, air force and special operations assets, showed military leaders the progress the ISF has made over the past several years.

"The road to today's concluding phase of Lion's Leap was neither short nor easy," said Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, commanding general for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Training Mission- Iraq. "You have achieved your goal, and Iraq is even stronger today than before."

To start the one-hour exercise, Iraqi Air Force helicopters dropped two squads of Iraqi Special Operations commandos at the first objective, near the docks of the Khor az-Zubayr port, which they assaulted and cleared in minutes. The second phase began when artillerymen launched mortar rounds into the second objective, a "pirate's nest" several hundred meters across the river from the military and media spectators. Iraqi Navy boats filled with soldiers sped down the river from the north to that same objective, where they disembarked to initiate the third phase. As the surge from the ground forces continued, four Iraqi air force and army helicopters made multiple rounds over the second site, providing air support from above.

Iraqi units executed their duties in the field successfully, said Lt. Gen. Mohommad Jawwad Huweidi, commander for the Basrah Operations Center.

"The exercise is different from its predecessors," Mohammad said, explaining that the previous exercises dealt with border security, whereas this exercise focused on liberating an island inhabited by terrorists.

"It [Lion's Leap] was really a stair-stepping event that was truly, truly amazing," said Maj. George Sellers, a Texas National Guardsman with the 36th Infantry Division and the primary planner for the division's ISF Cell. "Each one [operation] was a paradigm leap from the last. We are proud of the outcome."

The exercise ended with no serious injuries, but with laughter and smiles from ISF soldiers showing that the fruits of their hard labor had finally paid off.

Iraqi military leaders, soldiers and their U.S. counterparts gathered for a feast to celebrate the successful exercise.

"You are witnessing history in the making and a product of an enduring partnership between our forces and our countries," said Ferriter.