IA, MND-B Soldiers build relationships with Iraqi citizens to eliminate terrorists

Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD – Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, patrol the streets of Hurriyah during Operation Half Nelson Oct. 4. The Soldiers worked with the Iraqi army and local citizens to gather information on terrorist activity in the area.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.10.2006

Story by Spc. Joshua Ramey 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

by Spc. Joshua Ramey
2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armored Div.

BAGHDAD – Iraqi army soldiers, working in conjunction with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, executed Operation Half Nelson Wednesday, which was designed to build trust between Iraqi civilians and MND-B forces and eliminate terrorist threats in Baghdad's Hurriyah neighborhood.

The operation focused on gathering information as well as getting to know the residents of the Baghdad neighborhood, which is suspected of harboring terrorists.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, combined their efforts to conduct a cordon and knock mission.

Operation Half Nelson, part of Operation Together Forward, began when MND-B and Iraqi Security Forces blocked off a small area, established a security perimeter and spoke with local citizens, who voluntarily opened a dialogue with MND-B and Iraqi forces.

"Today's mission was to conduct a cordon and knock in order to gather information on suspects who have been implicated in sectarian violence," said 1st Lt. Jacob Hughes, platoon leader, Co. A., 1st Bn., 23rd Inf. Regt. "The people are saying that things have gotten a lot better ever since we came in and began working together with the Iraqi army. It's good to see that children can walk to school without being escorted by adults."

"The Soldiers of 1-23 Inf. Regt. enjoy working with the Iraqi army," Hughes said. "Obviously, there are language barriers, but we have developed a special bond with the strike platoon of 4th Bn., 1st Bde., 6th IAD. We are all Soldiers, and we are doing the same thing – making the people of Baghdad feel safe."

• Date Taken: 10.10.2006
• Date Posted: 10.10.2006 13:51
• Story ID: 7972
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ