By Staff Sgt. Matt Meadows
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Iraqi army soldiers walked the streets of eastern Baghdad on Dec. 21, talking with residents about keeping terrorists out of their neighborhoods and seeking their assistance to capture criminals.

Armed with 17,000 handbills and information sheets, IA soldiers from 43rd Brigade, 11th IA Division, greeted citizens and shopkeepers in the Muthana-Zayuna area as they passed along the information. The IA soldiers handed out at least five types of handbills to people in the area, including one about Layth Khalil Hassan Al Shujari; the specific target of the operation and a suspected Al-Qaida in Iraq leader connected with car bombs and improvised explosive device attacks in Rusafa.

"This [operation] means ... to tell the Iraqi people who are living in this area that there is a very strong Iraqi army, and everyone is protected by the Iraqi army," said Iraqi 1st Lt. Hamza, 43rd IA Bde. "The goal of the Iraqi army is to protect the people and to keep the neighborhood very secure. This keeps the Iraqi people very happy."

Oday, a storeowner in the Muthana-Zayuna area, said he is highly satisfied with the IA performance and their presence. He has no security problems or issues with having his shop in the area, and he thinks most of the terrorists have "run away" already.

"They are doing their job very well," expressed Oday. "The security situation is very good here."

IA soldiers handed out several types of flyers. One handbill pictured nine terrorists from the area that IA soldiers have captured, including the most recent criminal caught as the result of a citizen tip. Other information sheets included a rewards program for turning in terrorists; AQI attacking innocent civilians, citing a Dec. 17 IED attack that killed and wounded more than 50 civilians, Iraqi police officers and national police; IP and IA forces who are "Guardians of Baghdad working together [and] working for Iraq."

Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, helped provide security for the IA effort. In addition, Soldiers of the 1220th Tactical Psychological Detachment from California supported the combined operation, asking area residents, shoppers and storeowners about their concerns and opinions on various subjects. In addition, they used speakers to broadcast information about how to report terrorists.

Hamza said the IA keeps in touch with traffic police, which helps IA soldiers know what goes on in their operating environment. The IA also keeps in touch with the people, so they can be familiar with problems the public faces and they can help resolve their issues. Hamza said the IA receives intelligence reports about terrorists that operate in Rusafa from Iraqi citizens and coalition forces.

"Most of the people cooperate with us. In the past, they used to be scared [and] did not give us any information," explained Hamza. "But nowadays, they like the Iraqi army and they trust the Iraqi army. That is why they give all the information about any terrorists in this area; and if they have any suspicions, they come and tell us."

Connected Media