Dear Friends, Family, and Interested Readers,
We have so many varied stories and many wonderful pictures. Our top story is the humanitarian aid brought into Mansuriah and Muqdadiyah. Op Phantom Phoenix continues its successful missions making areas safer. What a shame that not one of these stories will be found in our newspapers. Enjoy!
Joanna
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January 20, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Coalition Forces resume air assault on al-Qaeda targets
BAGHDAD - CF resumed the aerial bombardment of an al-Qaeda-in-Iraq sanctuary in Arab Jabour Jan. 20.
The precision air strikes targeted suspected AQI safe havens as part of Op Marne Thunderbolt, which is part of the country-wide Op Phantom Phoenix.
The raid follows the Jan.10 and Jan.16 air strikes in the same region which hit a combined total of 64 targets with a total weight of more than 80,000 pounds of bombs.
Additional information will be released as story develops.
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New Brigadier General in Iraq
Task Force Iron and 1st Armored Div. com., Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, right, administers the oath of office to newly promoted Brig. Gen. Raymond Thomas, Task Force Iron assist. div. com. for support Jan. 19 at Contingency Ops Base Speicher. The Thomas family was able to witness the event via video teleconference.
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Tips lead to detention of 10 AQI during Op Phantom Phoenix
TIKRIT - CF detained 10 suspected al Qaeda in Iraq operatives during a raid in an Al Ali village, in the northern Diyala River Valley area, known as the bread basket, Jan. 17.
The successful raid was part of Op Raider Harvest, which is part of Op Phantom Phoenix - a countrywide operation to eliminate AQI and other extremists in Iraq.
Working off tips from local Iraqis, Soldiers from 3rd Sqdrn, 2nd Stryker Cav Regt detained the suspects at 7 different locations in the village. One of the detainees is a suspected AQI company com., 4 are suspected AQI fighters, 2 are suspected IED emplacers and 3 are suspected AQI informants.
"With the detainment of this cell, the residents within this area will be more inclined to help CF and Iraqi SF in identifying remaining AQI," said Capt. Samuel Davis, 3/2 SCR Intel officer. "With the detention of the majority of the members of this cell, insurgent activities within the area will be severely decreased, and increase the likelihood of being able to establish a Concerned Local Citizen (CLC) group or neighborhood security."
Since Jan. 8, with the start of the clearing phase of Raider Harvest, CF and ISF have detained 70 suspected AQI in the AO, killed 4 and wounded 4 more. In addition, 25 IEDs have been found and cleared, along with 8 vehicle-borne IEDs, 6 house-borne IEDs and 30 weapon caches.
At the same time as the ongoing mission of clearing AQI from the bread basket, CF, ISF and CLCs are also conducting humanitarian aid drops, providing medical aid, delivering fuel, establishing security checkpoints and building Joint Combat outposts. Op Raider Harvest is not only designed to clear AQI from the bread basket, a former AQI stronghold and safe haven, but also ensure that they are unable to return.
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Cavalry troops fuel up Mansuriah during Op Phantom Phoenix
MANSURIYAH - After going without kerosene for several months, the Diyala Provincial Govt organized a fuel drop to the citizens of Mansuriyah Jan. 17.
Located just outside of Muqdadiyah, hundreds of Mansuriyah citizens lined up to receive 20 liters of kerosene per person from G Troop, 2nd Sqdrn, 3rd Armored Cav Regt, 4th Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, Task Force Iron.
The event is one of several missions 2-3 ACR has conducted in the area since the beginning of Op Raider Harvest, a brigade-level op in support of Op Phantom Phoenix.
"CF, Iraqi SF and Muqdadiyah Iraqi Police (IP) all helped achieve our goals in taking back the Bread Basket," said Muqdadiyah Mayor Ahmed through an interpreter. "After clearing the area controlled by terrorists, we provide services, food and kerosene for villages that have been isolated. Mansuriyah is one of these villages. They have been selected by the Diyala provincial govt and CF to receive these services and kerosene." Other such services include food drops, medical missions and the rebuilding of schools.
"We will be renovating a boys' school and girls' school starting tomorrow hopefully," said Capt. Jonathon Norquist, a civil affairs officer for 2-3 ACR. "We did a walk through yesterday and we're discussing price quotes with a local contractor today. We have been creating projects on the fly. Soon we will provide 400 people here with jobs clearing the canals of vegetation to improve water flow through the area. We want to improve our relations with the Iraqis here and build trust."
Men, women and children of all ages showed up for the fuel drop, most to collect their rations, others to observe the CF in their neighborhood. "The security situation was very bad; the drivers were scared to bring kerosene to us," said Mansuriyah citizen Habas Ahmed. "This help is very important because in the raining season we cannot live without kerosene. The security situation has gotten a lot better. Some of the citizens are scared of the CF, because al Qaeda tells them U.S. Army Soldiers are killers and their helicopters destroy our houses. But when they see the truth, when they see the reality, they will be very, very friendly with CF."
Capt. Jonathon Norquist shows 3 Iraqi girls the picture he snapped of them while their families receive kerosene rations.
Soldiers of Troop G pour kerosene into jugs.
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MND-North Soldiers work to help residents of Muqdadiyah
Sgt. Casey Enos, platoon sgt. of the Personal Security Detachment, HHC, 2nd Bn, 23rd Inf Regt, 4th Stryker BCT, 2nd ID from Fort Lewis, Wash., stands guard outside the Muqdadiyah Government Center, Jan. 15.
Spc. Jeremiah Webster, an infantryman in HHC, provides security.
Sgt. 1st Class Ronald McKamy, a medic in Co C, 431st CAB, 4th Stryker BCT, provides security.
Lt. Col. Mark Landes, com. of 2nd Bn, speaks with Mayor Ahmed. CF are working closely with governmental leaders to help ensure that Muqdadiyah and the surrounding area is tied back into the Diyala provincial govt and federal govt. This part of the northern Diyala River Valley had been shut off from the rest of the province for many years due to a strong al Qaeda presence. Operation Phantom Phoenix is successfully clearing AQI from the area.
An Iraqi Army Soldier prepares several platters of flatbread for a lunch for Muqdadiyah govt officials and CF at the Muqdadiyah Government Center.
Soldiers of Co E, 202nd Bde Support Bn entertain Iraqi children in Muqdadiyah, Jan. 13, while filling a fuel truck with kerosene to be distributed to the people of the northern Diyala River Valley.
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MND-N Soldiers prep for Op Fulton Harvest
M119 A2 Howitzer Section Soldiers from A Batt, 2-320th FAR, 1st BCT, 101st Abn Div (Air Assault) prepare their 105 mm artillery rounds for the next mission in Op Fulton Harvest, Jan. 12. Part of this op netted an extremist hideout camp, vehicle-borne (VB) explosives and 30 pressure-plate explosives.
Gunners from A Co., 2nd Bn, 327th Inf Regt, 1st BCT, provide perimeter security.
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