Spc. Matthew Wester
100th MPAD
BAGDHAD -- 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, Iraqi Army extended its area of responsibility this week, taking over security for a larger part of northwest and north central Baghdad.
"This was a transfer of authority of two large districts in the capitol city of Baghdad from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division to the Iraqi Army," said Col. David Bishop, commander of 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.
"We have looked forward to expanding our operation and our work", said Lt. Col. Karben Qussay, commander of the 1st Bn., based in the Adamiya section of Baghdad. "We have the full ability to expand our area of operations."
The battalion's sector now includes about one fourth of Baghdad, according to Qussay.
"There are seven zones in the area of Adamiya, and when I came here in January, we controlled five of those seven zones." said Lt. Col. Jim Blackburn, commander of the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is responsible for the training the 1st Bn. "Now, the 1st Bn. controls all seven."
"The bar has been raised now," said Lt. Col Mark Kerry, of the 256th Brigade Combat Team, Louisiana National Guard and commander of a military transition team working with the 6th Iraqi Army Division. "They have proven they can handle it."
The 1st Bn. will now patrol areas like the Al" Shab section of Baghdad on their own, Kerry said.
He added that the additional area secured by the battalion is about three square miles, but is a densely populated urban zone of about 500,000 people.
"It is substantial," he said.
The turnover of security operations occurred based on the performance of the Iraqi troops policing their own neighborhoods.
Blackburn said the 1st Bn. has shown, "an excellent display of leadership and technical capabilities."
Qussay stated the expansion came with a lot of hard work and was possible because of the successes his battalion has had against the insurgents.
One of the recent successes of Qussay's troops was the seizure of nearly 100 sticks of plastic explosive C-4, false identification cards and vests and belts that could have been used for suicide attacks during a night raid in north central Baghdad May 8.
Four terror suspects were detained in the raid, and 1st Bn. Soldiers found a possible "hit list" of names the suspected insurgents were targeting.
The names of Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police members and other officials were reportedly among those on the list.
Blackburn explained the 1st Bn. has routinely captured similar caches and followed up with additional raids to seize higher-level members of the insurency.
Qussay's Soldiers also proved themselves during the Ashura holy days; limiting insurgent attacks against pilgrims marching to mosques in Baghdad.
The transition occurring in northwest Baghdad will continue, as Iraqi security forces assume greater control of the security of their own country.
"One day, Baghdad will be controlled totally by the Iraqi security forces," Kerry said.
Qussay is ready for that day to come.
"We are ready to be responsible for more," he said.
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| Date Taken: |
05.17.2005 |
| Date Posted: |
05.17.2005 08:00 |
| Story ID: |
1848 |
| Location: |
BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: |
57 |
| Downloads: |
33 |
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