Photo By Sgt. Armando Monroig | Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
Subscribe
BAQOUBA, Iraq – Coalition forces conducted a three-day operation on the outskirts of Baqouba, Iraq, beginning May 23, as part of a continuing effort to clear areas suspected of harboring terrorists.
The operation in Chibernat was led by 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, with assistance from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, from Fort Lewis, Wash.
Supporting 5-20th Inf. Regt. was Troop Bravo of 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, also from Fort Lewis.
Troop Bravo, part of 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, went through their objective one house at a time, making sure there were no terrorists, and spoke with local residents about possible terrorist activities in the area.
Seven kidnapped victims were rescued and nine dead bodies of locals were discovered as a result of the joint operation.
Numerous weapons caches were discovered, nine road-side bombs were destroyed, and 11 suspected insurgents were detained. The caches included weapons, ammunition, bomb-making materials and a suicide vest and belt, according to a report by the unit.
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Gunderson, a section sergeant in 3rd platoon, Troop Bravo, said that locals hide whenever they see suspected terrorists in their neighborhoods.
"They don't know who they are," said Gunderson. "They just said the guys in black masks are the bad guys. They told us what times they come, and how big the groups are. They said they have lots of cars and gave us descriptions of the cars."
Having coalition forces in the area helps put residents at ease, he added.
"They're happy that we're here. They want to see us here, because when we're here, the guys in black masks aren't here. (Residents) welcome us into their homes, sit down and talk to us, and try to tell us what they can," said Gunderson.
Gunderson said he and his unit hope they can have the same impact in Chibernat as they had in Buhriz, a town they helped secure in April, also with 5-20th Inf. Regt.
"We're hoping to secure the area, establish a constant IP, IA and coalition forces presence, and to push all the (terrorists) out so people can move freely and not have to worry about getting killed," said Gunderson.
Capt. David Bergmann, a platoon leader in Troop Bravo, 1-14th Cav., said residents are the key to ridding terrorists from their neighborhoods and improving security.
"We can't be everywhere all the time, so we want to know what they see, about what happens in their area," said Bergmann. "Our piece of the whole pie is security.
By them letting us know what happens on a day-to-day basis, we can improve the security."
Now that coalition forces have established an increased presence in the area, it's now the terrorist's move, said Sgt. Kyle Ellison, a gunner from 3rd platoon, Troop Bravo.
"The (terrorists) will have to react to us now. We will start sending in Iraqi police and Iraqi army into these neighborhoods and then people will be able to move freely," Ellison said.
Ellison agreed with Bergmann, his platoon leader, explaining that the local residents play an important part in the fight against terrorists. He also points to Buhriz as a good example of what can happen when coalition forces and local residents work together.
"We've had a lot of help from the people in Buhriz. Key Iraqi leaders in Diyala province want the same thing (for) all these neighborhoods, so that's what we're here trying to do."
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2007 11:13 |
| Story ID: | 10759 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 677 |
| Downloads: | 618 |
This work, Stryker scouts help clear Diyala village, by SGT Armando Monroig, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
