Guardsmen's assessment stabilizes Iraqi oil refinery defenses

Photo By Scott Flenner | Sgt. 1st Class Chad McNeal of Marksville, La., with the Louisiana Army National Guard's 225th Engineer Brigade in Pineville, La., stands guard at the Al Daura oil refinery in southeastern Baghdad, while force protection members from the 1st Cavalry Division and engineers from the 225th conduct security assessment, March 30. Al Daura is one of Iraq's largest oil refineries.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.03.2009

Story by Scott Flenner 

Louisiana National Guard

BAGHDAD – Louisiana Army National Guardsmen with the 225th Engineer Brigade in Pineville, La., and the force protection section of the 1st Cavalry Division have started security assessments to strengthen defenses for one of Iraq's largest oil refineries.

The Al Daura oil refinery, located in southeastern Baghdad, is one of the country's largest oil refineries.

The request to strengthen the defenses of the refinery came from Lt. Gen. Abboud, the senior Iraqi commander for Baghdad. Protecting the refinery's operations is a vital step in stabilizing the increasing production of oil in Iraq.

The 225th are currently serving a one-year deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their missions will include route clearance, route sanitation, force protection improvements, infrastructure improvements and military construction.

• Date Taken: 04.03.2009
• Date Posted: 04.03.2009 11:38
• Story ID: 31969
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ