Maj. Webster Wright
10th Mountain Division PAO
BAGHDAD - The 1st Mechanized Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army Brigade began combat operations in the Western Baghdad district of Abu Ghraib Monday with the mission to hunt down and kill or capture insurgents who have been staging attacks in the Iraqi capital.
The battalion, composed of armored personnel carriers, tanks, and Iraqi infantry Soldiers, is conducting operations throughout the 30 square kilometer town.
Coalition Forces have been planning for the introduction of 1/1 Mechanized Battalion for several weeks.
"This battalion is well trained, well equipped and well led," said Maj. Web Wright, spokesman for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.
"This introduction will bring a huge capability to the Coalition Forces in this area of operations."
The battalion brings a local eye to the fight against the insurgency.
"Only an Iraqi can really understand what is going on in an Iraqi neighborhood," said Wright. "They speak the language, they know the people, and they can tell when something is just not right within the population."
Abu Ghraib has been a hotly contested battle ground since the war began in March 2003. The Baghdad suburb, formerly a military industrial town for Saddam's army, supported the Hamarabi Republican Guard Division prior to the liberation of Iraq.
Due to the geographic location, Abu Ghraib has been a trafficking area for the former Ba"ath Party insurgency and Zarqawi terrorist network between Baghdad and Falluja.
"This is a perfect example of what the Iraqi government is trying to accomplish," said Lt. Col. Michael Infanti, deputy brigade commander, 2nd BCT, 10th MTN.
"They are getting Iraqi Security Forces to take responsibility within the country to destroy the insurgency.
These Soldiers are well trained and are willing to fight for democracy and freedom."
| Date Taken: | 05.06.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2005 10:29 |
| Story ID: | 1766 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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