Dear Interested Readers,
We have a variety of uplifting positive stories out of Iraq. Through photos we are taken on a a clearing operation in al Lej, more improvements to Baghdad's power grid, and quality of life improvements in Hawr Rajab. Weapon caches continue to be found, and al Qaeda terrorists captured or killed.
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
March 10, 2008
Iraqi Army, Coalition Forces, conduct operation in al Lej
By Sgt. Natalie Rostek, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
FOB HAMMER - IA and CF conducted a 2-day cordon and search op in al Lej, March 7-8. The op resulted in the death of 2 insurgents, discovery of 4 IEDs and one weapons cache, and destruction of 2 buildings storing ammo and explosives.
Soldiers from the 13th Georgian Army Light Inf Bn provided area security, as IA Soldiers searched houses in 2 villages in al Lej for weapons caches and evidence of insurgent activity.
Soldiers from the 3rd HBCT's MiTT and Task Force Petro, the brigade's Georgian army
liaison team, provided support while Soldiers from Co E, 1st Bn, 15th Inf Regt, an engineer company, cleared the roads of IEDs.
Capt. Jimmy Hathaway, cmdr. of Task Force Petro, said the mission set the stage for the arrival of the 1st Bde, 9th IA, and will enable them to move into the southern bowl of the Mada'in Qada, the 3rd HBCT's area of op. Soldiers also secured the al Batan pump station, a large station with the ability to provide water to multiple areas. After the mission, 13th GAB Soldiers and Sons of Iraq set up 12
checkpoints throughout the area.
Hathaway works closely with Maj. David Sulkhanishvili, cmdr. of the 13th GAB, and the battalion Soldiers. "It was great to see the Georgian Soldiers securing the objective and immediately being able to transition to helping the locals," Hathaway said.
Iraqi Soldiers prepare for a foot patrol in al Lej.
Iraqi Soldiers provide security from the roof of the battalion command post between al
Lej and Shugerriah.
A Soldier from the 13th GAB, shares tips with his Iraqi counterpart, on his AK-47 rifle.
Soldiers from the 3rd HBCT's MiTT, and Iraqi Soldiers conduct a foot patrol.
Staff Sgt. Luke Lewis, a Soldier from the 3rd HBCT's MiTT, provides security during
a cordon and search.
A medic from the 13th GAB hands applesauce to a local girl from al Lej.
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MoE repairs towers on Baghdad's power belt
By Sgt. Luis Delgadillo, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
BAGHDAD - Reconstruction of 3 132-kilovolt high-tension power line towers in the region of Arab Jabour are near completion.
Iraqi Ministry of Electricity employees began work on the towers March 1. Once complete, another link of the southern Baghdad power belt will be fixed. With the exception of occasional route clearance teams checking and clearing the route to and from the site of the towers, CF had no involvement in securing the area.
Sgt. Rod Elrifai, a power generation specialist with 2-3 Bde Troop Bn, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID, said the belt is a series of 400-132 kv power lines and electrical stations which provide power to and encircle the capital city.
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MND-B Soldiers detain 3 in Rashid
BAGHDAD - MND - Baghdad Soldiers detain 3 suspected insurgents during ops in the Rashid District of theIraqi capital March 8.
During the early morning hours, Soldiers of 1st Bn, 28th Inf Regt, 4th IBCT, detained the 3 suspects in West Rashid's Risalah neighborhood. One of the men is suspected of numerous indirect fire and IED attacks in the area.
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Hawr Rajab Sees Significant Economic, Quality of Life Improvements
By Staff Sgt. Michael Paredes, 3rd ID
Capt. Gregory Curry II, cmdr. of Troop A, 6th Sqdrn, 8th Cav Regt, 4th BCT, 3rd ID signs over a micro-grant to a general store owner in the Hawr Rajab area, March 10. Curry said the purpose of the micro-grants is to improve and jumpstart the local economy.
FOB KALSU — With security improving in Hawr Rajab, stores and schools are reopening and a number of programs are revitalizing a community once on the brink of chaos.
“The present challenges we face are maintaining security, promoting economic growth and stability, while helping Hawr Rajab establish an efficient local govt with supporting entities,” said Capt. Curry II. “It will not happen overnight, but it is happening one day at a time.” His troop coordinates with Team A, Co B, 426th Civil Affairs Battalion (CAB), and the U.S. State Dept’s Baghdad-7 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Life is returning to normal with the improvements, made possible by partnership between CF, SoI, officials from the Govt of Iraq (GoI) and Iraqi SF. Hawr Rajab is becoming a beacon of change and potential for sustainable economic improvements.
Current area economic initiatives include the mico-grant program distributed to approx. 50 stores. The poultry revitalization program will provide starter chicks to poultry farms. The seed distribution program has distributed more than 900 starter packets of seed as well as plastic to local farmers, to grow cucumbers, eggplants, bell peppers and tomatoes. School renovation projects are undergoing extensive improvements with a much needed facelift, and with the intent to relieve the overcrowding. The Hawr Rajab Medical Clinic is being repaired, and is scheduled for completion this month.
With the revitalization of the area and need for skilled labor, a vocational school was constructed by U.S. Air Force construction engineers, who will also provide the instructor staff.
A large number of SoI will be retrained as electricians, carpenters and construction laborers. This vocational school has been dubbed “The Village of Hope.” The program is currently in a final approval stage at 3rd Inf. Div. HQ.
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March 9, 2008
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Al-Qaeda targeted, weapons caches destroyed; five killed, 26 detained
BAGHDAD – CF killed 5 terrorists, detained 26 suspects and found several weapons caches March 8 and 9, during ops to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq.
CF conducted an op northwest of Samarra today, targeting an alleged al-Qaeda-in-Iraq leader involved in propaganda ops for the network in al-Anbar province. The suspect is believed to be associated with several AQI leaders, including foreign terrorists operating outside of Iraq.
As CF arrived in the area, they received enemy fire from 4 individuals they observed departing the target building and moving into a nearby field. Responding in self-defense, the ground force engaged, killing the 4 armed terrorists. As they secured the area where the terrorists were located, the ground force found various equipment and weapons, including 4 military style assault vests, machine guns, ammo and magazines, bomb-making materials and medical supplies.
The ground force moved to a nearby building and discovered a large weapons cache that included machine guns, rockets, grenades, numerous magazines and ammo, mortars, IED materials and initiators, detonation cord, ball bearings, military-style assault vests, medical supplies, and various other military hardware items. A vehicle found in the target area also contained numerous AQI propaganda materials. During their final sweep of the area, CF found another weapons cache and a building with several false floors containing weapons and ammo. Once the area was clear, CF called supporting fixed-wing aircraft to conduct precision airstrikes, destroying 2 buildings, 2 vehicles and the 2 weapons caches to prevent further use for terrorist activities.
In Mosul Saturday and Sunday, CF detained 6 suspected terrorists, including an alleged leader involved in the AQI network operating on the east side of the city. The suspect is reportedly associated with several senior leaders of the AQI network in the region, to include Abu Yasir al-Saudi, also known as Jar Allah, the former Saudi AQI leader and foreign terrorist facilitator killed Feb. 27. As CF began to enter the target building, they encountered a terrorist armed with a suicide vest. The ground force evacuated before the terrorist detonated his vest, killing himself, but causing no harm to CF. The ground force continued to clear the area and found a vehicle loaded with several weapons, which they destroyed on site to prevent further use for terrorist activity. Also in Mosul, another 3 suspects were detained during a separate op targeting a senior leader for the city's AQI network.
Northeast of Balad Sunday morning, CF detained 3 suspected terrorists while targeting an alleged explosives facilitator connected to the Baghdad AQI network. CF also discovered 30 bags of Urea, a common precursor for homemade explosive materials, in one of the target buildings, which was safely destroyed, along with a vehicle allegedly used for terrorist activity. Nearby, another 4 suspects were detained during an op Saturday targeting an alleged AQI associate involved in the facilitation of foreign terrorists and smuggling weapons and IED materials.
CF detained another 10 suspects Sunday near Taji, during an op targeting an alleged associate of the senior leader for the northern belt AQI network.
"Al-Qaeda's indiscriminate violence has no place in Iraq's future," said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, MNF-I spokesman. "While a tough fight remains ahead of us, Iraqi and CF will continue take the fight to al-Qaeda, keeping the terrorists on the defensive and diminishing their ability to attack innocent civilians."
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