King's Mountain a success in combined operations

Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | An Iraqi army Soldier with 1st Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, pulls security in Sayidot Village during Operation Iron Kings Mountain, a combined air assault Sept. 8, 2008.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.13.2008

Story by Pfc. Christopher McKenna 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By Pfc. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) Public Affairs Office

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Iraqi army Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th IA Division conducted Operation Iron King's Mountain, a combined air assault with Coalition forces in Sayidot Village Sept. 8, 2008.

"The purpose was to ask the families over there if they need anything or if there are any terrorist groups working around the area who are bothering them and if they have any information," said 2nd Lt. Hassan Sabeh Abd Al Khader, 1/23/17 IA Div. "It was a major success."

The operation was the final air assault out of Patrol Base Yusifiyah. A total of 46 IA Soldiers joined 86 Rakkasans from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in the effort to eliminate any potential terrorist threat.

"We had some intelligence that [terrorist groups] were trying to activate, or reactivate in the Sayidot Village, and the operation was set for coalition and Iraqi forces to go in to confirm or deny and sweep out any potential threats," said 1st Lt. Adam Cowan, from Kansas City, Kan., Co. C, 3-187th Inf. Regt., executive officer. "The IA [engaged] the population, and even though we didn't make enemy contact, we still cleared enough houses out to be able to confirm that [the terrorist groups] are not active in the area."

The IA was instrumental in uprooting the sole detainee captured during the mission, said Sgt. Brenton Davis, from Twin Falls, Idaho, 1st Platoon, Co. C, 3-187th Inf. Regt., team leader. "They pursued an individual in a corn field who ran away upon our arrival into the area."

"We received intelligence en route to the landing zone that we had a suspect fleeing one of the target houses," said Sgt. 1st Class Troy Martinek, from St. Paul, Minn., 1st Plt., Co. C, 3-187th Inf. Regt., platoon sergeant. "As we hit the ground the air weapons team talked us onto the target, which the Iraqi Army rapidly detained."

The IA is set to take on a greater role in the security responsibility throughout the Mahmudiyah Qada. The Rakkasans will be replaced by a smaller coalition element, which will develop an operational partnership with the IA.

"With the help of the coalition, the Iraqi army has become stronger than ever and will be able to take care of all security in Iraq when the time comes," Al Khader said.

• Date Taken: 09.13.2008
• Date Posted: 09.13.2008 04:14
• Story ID: 23591
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ