During the First World War , German troops constructed Building deep dugouts throughout the Butte and surrounded Surrounding it by several belts of barbed wire , making it a formidable defensive Defending position in advance of ( Gird Trenches to the British ) .

The southern operation was designated Choosing Operation Marne Thunderbolt and targeted Aiming insurgent safe havens in the belts to the south-east of Baghdad , particularly the Arab Jabour region .