BAQUBAH, Iraq – The Iraqi army, supported by coalition partners, cleared two former al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold villages, south of Baqubah, Feb. 10-13.
Soldiers from the 3rd and 4th Battalions, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division with support from Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division cleared the villages of Arab Jabar and Hussein al Hamadi during Operations Lions Attack and Bandog Rodeo.
"The Iraqi army did outstanding," said Capt. Brett Gambacorta, Troop B executive officer. "The improvements we have seen by the IA since May has been amazing. This operation was completely Iraqi led, Iraqi planned and Iraqi executed. All we did was assist them with some logistical aspects and some coalition force enablers. The IA is taking the fight to the enemy regardless of sect. They are hunting down AQI and taking care of business."
During the operations, the Iraqi soldiers discovered and cleared 35 improvised explosive devices, 10 vehicle-borne IEDs, four house-borne IEDs and seven weapon caches. One enemy combatant was killed, two were wounded and 16 suspected insurgents were detained.
Weapons confiscated during the operations included 36 mortar and rocket rounds, 11 Katusha rocket launchers, 27 rocket propelled grenade launchers, 42 RPG rounds, 10 AK-47 rifles, one 14.5mm heavy machine gun, 400 pounds of homemade explosives, numerous small arms rounds, other military equipment and enemy propaganda.
One Iraqi army soldier was killed during the fighting and six Iraqi army soldiers were injured. Two CF Soldiers were injured along with one interpreter during an exchange of gunfire with enemy fighters. The Soldiers are in stable condition and will be returned to duty.
This is the third operation in these two villages in the past six months. IA and CF conducted air assaults into the villages in October and January, but this is the first time a large force has gone into the area to include route clearance vehicles and explosive ordinance disposal.
Hundreds of Sons of Iraq (formerly Concerned Local Citizens) have volunteered to ensure AQI is unable to retake the area.
| Date Taken: |
02.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
02.18.2008 04:22 |
| Story ID: |
16448 |
| Location: |
BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: |
1,151 |
| Downloads: |
1,093 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, IA, CF clear AQI strongholds south of Baqubah, by SSG Russell Bassett, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Subscribe
