Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Iraqi army soldiers from the 11th Battalion, 53rd Brigade, 14th Iraqi Army Regiment...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, joined the Jihad reconciliation council and Iraqi security forces leaders, Aug. 19, 2008, to witness the return of 20 families into Hayy Jihad, located in southern Baghdad's Rashid District, which is home to approximately 1.6 million Iraqis.
The event commemorated a return to stability due to the ongoing security efforts of Iraqi security and coalition forces and welcomed families that were previously driven out of the predominately Shia community due to sectarian violence and strife, said Capt. Ryan Gavin, commander of Company C, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt.
"The families that left now feel secure enough to move back to the area and contacted their local leadership for permission," said Gavin, a native of Hawley, Penn.
"The Iraqi army, with our support, decided that the area is stable enough and the families pose no threat to the peace."
Partnered with IA, Iraqi police and Abna al-Iraq [Sons of Iraq], Soldiers of the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., continue to maintain security in the area, said Gavin, a 2002 West Point graduate.
Staff Col. Ali of the 11th Bn., 53rd Bde., 14th IA Div., spoke at the event and welcomed the return of the displaced families to the area.
Ali said the families could return due to the cooperation of ISF and coalition forces ensuring the current levels of security and stability are maintained.
The Jihad reconciliation council arranged the event with local community leaders to officially recognize the families requesting to return to their homes and acknowledge the accomplishments of ISF in the area, he explained.
The committee returned approximately 600 displaced families within the last year, said Sheik Talib Kwali, head of the Jihad Council, and the community hopes to welcome 240 more families to return to the Hayy Jihad area Aug. 23 during another ceremony.
"We will arrange the full preparation to welcome them, and we are asking all the related organizations to do their part in providing security and services in order to ensure a safe return for these families," said Talib.
Talib recognized the efforts of the community, especially the ISF, in helping make the event possible, and assured everyone that the citizens returning to Hayy Jihad will have the same rights and responsibilities as other Iraqis in the area.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2008 10:07 |
| Story ID: | 22689 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 41 |
This work, Iraqi citizens return to stability - 20 families relocate in Baghdad's Jihad community, by 1SG Brent Williams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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