Dear Interested Readers,
Building a rapport in Mosul, and adding members to Sons of Iraq in Warij.  Operation Arrow Cleanup, a joint effort with IP clears a town in Diyala.  After rehabilitation, some detainies are released to their families in a reconciliation effort.
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

April 24, 2008

Building rapport in Mosul's al-Wadah neighborhood

Sgt. Eric Lee, assigned to 8tht Inf Regt, is offered a snack by an Iraqi gentleman during a patrol, April 21.

Pvt. Justin Stougard stops to greet a young resident.

Spc. Tracy Collins and Spc. Martin Cerrillos patrol the al-Wadah neighborhood. Cerrillos takes the time to shake hands with a young Iraqi.

1st Lt. Michael Smith meets with a resident to discuss security and how the IA and CF can offer assistance if required.

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Warij residents become Sons of Iraq

BAGHDAD - One hundred and fifty residents of Warij volunteered to become SoI, April 12.
On April 20, the new SoI began guarding a stretch of the southern Baghdad community, which falls in the 2nd BCT, 3rd ID's area of op. "It's the only area within the brigade that has both sects operating jointly at SoI checkpoints," said Capt. Gregory Curry, a cmdr. under 8th Cav Regt, 4th BCT, 3rd ID. "It's the so-called 'check and balance' that we need to move forward with the people of Iraq seeing each other as equal and not as Sunni and Shia."
First Lt. Dan Henry, an EO under 8th Cav Regt, said criminals have threatened business owners in the area and used Warij as an area to coordinate and execute attacks against the GoI, CF and Iraqi SF.
Curry said the Sunni and Shia SoI working together would help quell the violence that had plagued the
community.  Two sheikhs, one Sunni and one Shia, will collectively manage the Warij SoI command post and monitor checkpoints throughout the area.  Curry said the sheikhs realize they need to set aside their
differences for Warij to be a safe community.
Coalition force leaders hope the example in Warij of Sunni and Shia working together will encourage citizens who fled during the violence to move back to their homes.
"The importance of this program is that it will enhance the perception of security to where families will return to their homes and establish another multi-ethnic, multi-tribal and peaceful population center in the Spartan (2nd BCT, 3rd ID) operating environment," said Maj. Rob Kaderavek, 6-8th Cav. Regt. EO.

Sons of Iraq in Warij stand guard at a checkpoint, April 22. The Warij SoI program is composed of both Sunni and Shia residents.

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Operation Arrow Cleanup clears Diyala town

An IP officer from the Hib Hib Police Station provides security for Soldiers from the 202nd MP Co before
entering a palm grove near Hib Hib, April 23.

Sgt. Brandon Ellis, a dog handler with 1st Armored Div, and his military working dog, Edo, search for explosives and weapon caches during Op Arrow Cleanup near Hib Hib. CF worked with IP and SoI, from
the Hib Hib area in the Diyala province during the mission.

IP officers use a metal detector to try locating buried weapon caches.

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MND-B Soldiers capture RPG war heads during ongoing clearing ops

BAGHDAD - The 4th Bn, 64th Armor Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, seized 3 anti-tank RPG launchers and 10 high-explosive RPG rounds in the Rashid district in southern Baghdad, April 21.
Soldiers from Co C, 4-64 AR, with help from their Iraqi SF counterparts discovered the weapons cache.
"Iraqi SF are good about using tips from concerned citizens and finding caches," said Maj. Dave Olson, the 1st BCT spokesman. "The ISF and 'Tuskers' from 4-64 AR, and the 1st BCT, 4th ID., continue to conduct clearing ops in support of the Baghdad Security Plan to create a safe and secure environment for people
of the Rashid district and Iraq."

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122 Detainees Released as part of Reconciliation Efforts

Kirkuk Police assist a family member overcome with emotion during his brother's release at the Kirkuk Police Academy in Iraq.  A total of 122 detainees were released April 21 during a ceremony marking the biggest release to date in this region.

A detainee hugs his children following the detainee release ceremony.

A released detainee hugs a relative.

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MND-B Soldiers kill 15 criminals

BAGHDAD -  April 22, Soldiers from 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div, witnessed a criminal emplacing an IED in northeast Baghdad, and shot and killed him.
UAV operators from 3rd BCT, 4th ID, spotted 2 individuals with a mortar tube. They loaded the weapon into a vehicle and drove off in northeastern Baghdad. The UAV fired a hellfire missile, killing 2 criminals and destroying a vehicle.
Soldiers from 1st Sqdrn, 2nd Stryker Cav Regt, attached to 3rd BCT, 4th ID, engaged and killed a criminal after coming under a small-arms fire in northeastern Baghdad.
Soldiers from 3rd BCT, 4th ID, were attacked with an IED by criminals while they were conducting a mounted patrol in eastern Baghdad. Soldiers were then attacked with RPGs.  Soldiers identified the criminals' location and engaged them with small-arms fire, killing 6 criminals.
Soldiers from 3rd BCT, 4th ID, were attacked with RPGs in eastern Baghdad. They identified 2 separate RPG teams and retuned fire, killing 5 criminals.

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