Numerous criminals detained, 2 caches found during Operation Estonia

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Tami Hillis | Prior to detonation, Iraqi police and coalition forces stand with rocket-propelled grenades, 107 mm rockets and command wire on April 5 at the Iraqi army's Forward Operating Base Mahawil, Iraq; the munitions came from caches found in al Qasim and Hashmiyah during the previous week. (U.S. Army photo/Maj. Tony Campbell)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

04.12.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. 1st Class Tami Hillis
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi security forces detained numerous criminals and found two caches during Operation Estonia on March 29 - 30 in the Iraqi cities of Hamza and Hashmiyah.

"Operation Estonia was an operation to combat extremists who had occupied the town of Hashmiyah," said Maj. Tony Campbell, from Colorado Springs, Colo., G-3 adviser and deputy team leader with 31st Military Transition Team, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. "I was surprised by the tenacity of the extremists; they fought hard but the Iraqi Security Forces still prevailed in the operation."

During the two-day operation, members of the 31st brigade, 8th Iraqi army division; emergency response unit with the Iraqi police; and Hillah special weapons and tactics teamed up with coalition forces elements from 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and the 31st MiTT.

Campbell said the operation showed both criminals and the local populace that ISF are willing and capable to combat criminals.

"This operation gave confidence to the Iraqi security forces that they were powerful enough, strong enough to defeat (the criminals)," Campbell said.

Operation Estonia was just one of many raids in the Babil province that were fought to defeat criminals, beginning in the evening on March 25.

"During the next seven to 10 days the Iraqi security forces did a series of operations and in all of these operations the ISF were successful," Campbell said.

The two caches that were found during Operation Estonia consisted of 23 anti-tank mines, three crates of approximately 40 pounds of explosives each, three crates of pellet-shaped explosives, 15 81 mm mortars, two 120 mm mortars, 1,500 DSHKA rounds, one can of 120 mm mortar fuses, 10 explosively-formed penetrator housings, 10 EFP discs ranging from 4 - 12 inches, one 6-inch complete EFP, three grain bags full of EFP rings, tubes and back covers, two MK-19 rounds and one 120 mm casing.

"The overall outcome is favorable for the government because the Iraqi security forces have a renewed vigor, a new confidence in themselves and the people have a greater confidence in the ability of the security forces to protect them and they're no longer intimidated by the militia," Campbell said.

Campbell said the operation also improved lines of communication between elements of the Iraqi police and Iraqi army. "They are openly sharing intelligence between these organizations in order to improve their efficiency during operations."

• Date Taken: 04.12.2008
• Date Posted: 04.12.2008 14:15
• Story ID: 18378
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ