Iraqi Security Force take lead during Ashura movement in Kadhimiyah

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | An Iraqi army soldier with the 5th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, directs traffic at a tactical checkpoint, Jan. 19, in Kadamiyah. Iraqi security forces took the lead in security in and around Kadamiyah during Ashura.  

IRAQ

01.22.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. James Hunter 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By Sgt. James P. Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs

KADAMIYAH, Iraq— Millions of Shia Muslim's moved through the streets of Kadhimiyah during of the past couple weeks to observe Ashura.

Ensuring these men, women and children were safe, Iraqi security forces came together in planning and executing the security in and around Kadhimiyah. It was a joint effort among the ISF and took weeks of planning to ensure the festivities went off without a hitch.

In control of security and planning in Kadhimiyah is the 2nd Division of the Iraqi national police.

Iraqi army soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, set up the outer cordon of Kadhimiyah, and manned tactical checkpoints to search each Iraqi citizen and vehicle entering the area for explosives and weapons.

The 5th Battalion 1st Brigade 6th Iraqi Army also has 40 female troops within the battalion, and used them— to include 12 other females augmented to the battalion— to search female Iraqi citizens at each checkpoint.

National policemen from the Justice Battalion maintained the inner security of Kadhimiyah, as forces from the 6th Ministry of Interior manned shrine security.

"They went through numerous synchronization meetings at all levels of command for this operation," said Clarksville, Tenn., native, Capt. Dan Koban, operations advisor, Military Transition Team, 5th Bn., 1st Bde., 6th Iraqi Army. "They joined together to publish a plan, went through weeks of preparation and it has all come together."

The security plan was a joint and combined effort using different ISF elements, Koban stated. The plan incorporated coalition air and aviation and possessed three levels of security, with each level of security getting tighter as it got closer to the Shrine.

The Iraqis also worked with local neighborhood and district council members, local councils and governments, and local clinics to ensure they hit every angle needed to ensure overall safety and fidelity.

As coalition forces look to move toward tactical overwatch, they wanted little involvement in the operation to secure Kadhimiyah. They wanted to step back, and watch the ISF take control of their homeland. All the ISF asked from coalition forces was for air assets to patrol the skies above.

Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, traveled between TCPs, giving the ISF added troop strength on the ground.

"We provided just an American presence there to respond to any situation that would develop," said Andover Township, N.J., native, Capt. Brad Henry, commander, Co. D, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Reg. "The real reason we [were] there is really to be a liaison between the air assets that are allocated to the battalion for Ashura. We are the link if something were to happen to the ISF units on the ground."

Coalition troops acted as a back stop to the ISF, who were responsible for the overall security in Kadhimiyah, he said.

Since 2004, Iraqis have been afforded the opportunity to observe Ashuura, something Saddam would not allow the Shia's to do. The last few years there were no serious incidents besides small arms fire from terrorist and/or extremists. This year was no different, except there were no negative incidents reported. No small arms fire; no mortars.

However, the threat was there. The Kadhimiyah Shrine is one of the few Shia monuments unharmed by insurgent activity, said Henry.

"The threat is there but there's been no attacks, and a lot of that credit goes to ISF forces in Kadhimiyah," he further explained. "They do a pretty good job of keeping Kadamiyah locked down from outside extremist organizations."

Kadhimiyah is predominately Shia, explained Henry, and most of the security forces operating in the area are Shia themselves, so they take a lot pride in protecting the Kadhimiyah Shrine.

Kadhimiyah is the central hub of the Shia religion and they have put the right amount of resources and focus there, and according to Koban, "they've got their A-game in Kadhimiyah."

Iraqi security forces have had the lead on the security for the processions since day one, said explained.

"It bodes very well for the future. They still require support and attention from coalition forces to get them where they need to go, but where they are now, the ISF, compared to where they were two years ago is light years ahead...," Henry said. "The fact that they can secure Kadhimiyah with very, very little coalition support is very promising. The amount of coalition force input into the planning process was very low."

Henry believes coalition forces are well on their way of handing Kadhimiyah to the Iraqi security forces with minimal coalition input and presence, allowing them to move into more of an over watch role.

"I think the success they've had during Ashura says we can get to that point in the future," he continued.

Now with Ashura over, and the success fresh in their minds, it's time to look toward the future.

Their focus now, especially with the continued peace throughout northwest Baghdad, is on soldierly training—especially among the non-commissioned officers and junior troops, or jundi, said Woodbridge, Va., native, Capt. Jeffrey Mackinnon, team chief, MiTT, 5th Bn. 1st Bde., 6th Iraqi army.

"We want to develop their NCO corps so they are capable of executing things without a U.S. force," he said. "That's our goal in the end, so we're pushing them to take charge in their operations. We're pushing them to take more charge with their personnel and logistics mission."

"These guys are willing, able and confident and want to move forward... once the higher level Iraqi army comes on line then these guys will take the next step forward," Koban said.

• Date Taken: 01.22.2008
• Date Posted: 01.22.2008 14:05
• Story ID: 15681
• Location: IQ