Photo By Spc. Benjamin Fox | An Iraqi man unloads a bag of rice from a container full of food rations that were...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Ben Fox
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
ANBAKIA, Iraq – Two key towns were held captive by a terrorist threat in the Diyala province, effectively blocking a supply route for many citizens in the Diyala River Valley.
As the anti-Iraqi forces continued to terrorize the towns, many of the citizens were displaced and became refugees in the nearby town of Anbakia, overpopulating the town and creating an even further shortage of food and services.
That all changed on July 22 with the start of Operation Olympus. Early in the morning, Iraqi army soldiers on foot, and teams of paratroopers from the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, air assaulted into the towns and completely destroyed the terrorist cells within.
"Our operation attacked these two villages that were harboring these terrorists, isolating them and bringing overall combat power to destroy them," said Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas, the 5-73rd Cav. commander.
"This was a number of campaigns in an overall campaign plan to bring safety and security to the Diyala River Valley," said Poppas.
"Previous intelligence-driven operations have been specifically directed at destroying anti-Iraqi forces in this region," he said. "We have been extremely effective... at destroying the enemy in order to supply safety and security to the area."
The operation also focused its efforts on Anbakia, the town that held all of the refugees.
The operation stationed a civil military operations (CMO) team to deliver initial supplies and services, such as food and medical specialists, said Poppas.
The number of refugees stressed the town's already meager rations and capabilities to address the population's needs, he said.
Capt. Henry Shih, the brigade surgeon for 3rd BCT, held a combined medical engagement in the town with Lt. Wassim from the Iraqi army.
"It was very good to have Lt. Wassim seeing patients so they could see the face of the Iraqi army," said Shih.
Shih said Wassim did a good job because he had knowledge of medicine and was in good spirits. He also served partially as an interpreter for Shih because he knew English.
The patients the combined force treated had problems ranging from diabetes and heart problems to rare chronic and congenital illnesses, said Shih.
The IA medic also helped the local population with the coalition's overall goal.
"We are trying to push them to be more reliant on the Iraqi army for security and other services," said Shih. "They will have to be more independent when we leave."
The mission was an example of the IA and 5-73rd's ability to handle complicated multi-faceted operations.
"Simultaneous kinetic operations have been conducted with non-kinetic operations aimed at establishing effective, representative local governments, repairing and rebuilding the physical infrastructure of local communities and the establishment of basic services necessary for all communities," said Poppas.
In addition to the combat, food and medical support was provided, 5-73rd Cav. also cleared the entire route connecting these towns.
"This operation is indicative of the duality of a mission profile in which we have anti-Iraqi forces which try to attempt to deny freedom of movement for coalition forces and freedom of movement along the entire route," said Poppas.
On their way up to Anbakia, the CMO team conducted route clearance, removing improvised explosive devices, barriers, and illegal check points in order to allow Iraqis to use the main road to travel between Baqubah and Khalis, said Poppas.
The residents of Anbakia have been loyal supporters of the coalition and Iraqi security forces, which is part of the reason help was sent to them specifically with their refugees.
"The town had been friendly to coalition forces," said Shih.
"They help us, so we help them," he said. "We will continue to work with them and not just abandon them."
"Our deliberate destruction of anti-Iraqi forces throughout the entire region has set conditions for the repatriation of these dislodged individuals," said Poppas.
The mission ended by setting up ISF security positions in the towns and along the routes.
"The combined might of Iraqi and American power" reduced the problem set to one that the ISF can easily maintain, said Poppas.
"The establishment of Iraqi security forces will allow for long-term safety and security, and freedom of movement in the entire region," he said.
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.26.2007 16:08 |
| Story ID: | 11481 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 181 |
| Downloads: | 152 |
This work, Operation Olympus opens route, secures towns, by SPC Benjamin Fox, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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