Dear Interested Readers,
The 4th Brigade of the 1st ID going home proud of all their accomplishments - Kudos! Iraqi SF and SoI continue to grow and increase security in northern Iraq. Many joint ops produce caches and capture terrorists. I love the story of our soldiers teaching Iraqi children how to play basketball. Enjoy!
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
April 11, 2008
UAV destroys mortar position, kills 6
BASRA - A CF unmanned aerial vehicle engaged a group of criminals firing mortars at Iraqi SF, April 11, killing 6 and injuring 1.
This is part of the ongoing support provided by CF to Iraqi SF to assist in combating the destabilizing criminal elements in Basra which seek to undermine the authority of the
legitimate govt of Iraq.
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'Surge' Brigade redeploys
BAGHDAD - Soldiers from the 4th Bde, 1st ID are redeploying to Fort Riley, Kan., this month.
"I'm proud of Task Force Dragon's Soldiers and the amazing work they've done in 14 months here," said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, 4th Bde cmdr. "We successfully reduced sectarian violence and attacks against Coalition and Iraqi SF by more than 60 percent across the board, strengthened bonds with our ISF brothers, as well as the district and neighborhood govts, and worked diligently to restore essential services.
"We also got to know the people of Rashid, many of whom helped us to end the cycle of violence by courageously providing info leading to the capture of hundreds of criminals who were not acting in the best interests of a secure and stable Iraq.
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UAV kills 6 heavily armed criminals
BAGHDAD - CF from MND-Baghdad operating an unmanned aerial vehicle observed a group of criminals with RPG launchers and a mortar tube in northeast Baghdad, April 10.
The UAV fired a Hellfire missile killing 6 heavily armed criminals.
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IA, MND-B Soldiers conduct search ops in Abu Ghraib
Interagency Identification Equipment system April 6 as part of an op in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad.
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Iraqi Army soldiers find weapons caches, detain 2 in separate operations
CAMP STRIKER - Iraqi Soldiers discovered a weapons cache and detained 2 suspected AQI members during a dismounted patrol in Said Abdullah Corridor, April 8.
The cache included 19 IEDs, 22 60 mm mortar rounds, a mortar tube, 2 RPGs, 6 RPG rounds and 2 Katusha rockets.
In 2 separate ops, the IA soldiers, in a joint patrol with 3rd Bn, 320th FA, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn Div (Air Assault), yielded a cache find east of the Qadisiyah Apartments in Mahmudiyah, April 8 and 9, including 7 80 mm mortars and 7 82 mm mortar rounds; 9 RPG rounds, 5 RPG launchers, 60 mm mortars, a mortar site, an AK-47, 70 flares, an IED, and IED making materials.
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ISF and SOI continue to grow while aiding in Iraq's future
TIKRIT - Iraqi SF and SoI have been substantial contributors for the increased security in northern Iraq over the last several months. More than 60,000 IA soldiers, more than 78,000 IP, more than 8,700 border enforcement agents, as well as 3,100 members of the NP are now making northern Iraq a safer place.
Since the turn of the year in northern Iraq, there has been an increase from just more than 14,500, to a staggering number of nearly 25,000 active members. With overall violence dropping more than 60 percent across Iraq over the past 10 months, attacks in the north remain high. June of last year was considered the peak of violence in northern Iraq with hundreds of attacks occurring across each of the provinces. However, now attacks have dropped almost 50 percent from that time frame. This includes the recent increase in attacks in the Mosul area.
Diyala has experienced a decrease of more than 75 percent from that time frame. This progress is due to the efforts of the Iraqi people willing to standup and work together with ISF to end violence in the north.
ISF and SOI discovered 11 weapons caches in northern Iraq April 7 and 8. Additionally, this week, 5 caches were discovered in Diyala Province, along with 2 caches each in Kirkuk, Ninewah and Salah ad Din Provinces.
The caches consisted of rockets, mortars and projectiles of different sizes, and hundreds of pounds of IED making materials.
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MND-C Soldiers find weapons cache in Janabi
CAMP STRIKER - MND-C Soldiers with 3rd BCT, 101st Abn Div (Air Assault), found a weapons cache in Janabi, April 10 containing more than 1,000 7.62 mm rounds, approx. 200 .50 cal rounds, 55 mm rounds, about 10 rockets, 120 mm rounds, 106 mm rounds, a 125 mm round, 5 155 mm illumination rounds, 10 pounds of propellant, fuses, a hand grenade, TNT and other bomb-making materials.
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ISF capture 2 AQI IED cell members, 1 insurgent cell leader in separate ops
BALAD - Iraqi SF, advised by U.S. SF, detained 2 suspected AQI IED cell members and an insurgent cell leader in separate ops April 8 and 9.
In Ramadi, the Anbar Counterterrorism Directorate conducted an op to capture members of an AQI IED cell operating out of the Albu Faraj area of Ramadi. The cell is accused of multiple attacks against Iraqi and CF including an IED attack, March 25. The group also owned an IED cache found by the Albu Faraj IP, March 30. Two cell members were detained during the op.
In Mosul, IA Soldiers captured the suspected leader of 7 "battalions" of insurgents throughout Mosul. His cells are believed to be responsible for IED and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi and CF including 2 suicide vest IED attacks against tactical control points in eastern Mosul, March 13.
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ISF, Coalition Forces Conduct Joint Operation
By Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Niles
FOB DELTA — An IP-led op in An Numaniyah sent a message to criminals in the city - Iraqi SF are in control. More than 300 IP, IA and CF deployed to An Numaniyah to conduct checkpoint ops in a joint effort, April 7. Dubbed Op Crystal Springs, the mission also provided ISF and Coalition leadership the opportunity to engage with local govt officials and sheikhs.
“It was an op that was planned by the IP, supported by the IA and the CF,” said Capt. Eric Wigley, cmdr. of the 511th. “They wanted to show the people that they are committed to the city, they are committed to their populace and they can, when they want, mass forces to help secure the population,” Wigley said. The forces established 4 checkpoints strategically placed in and around the city to interact with residents, search vehicles for contraband and distribute humanitarian assistance.
At one checkpoint, the ISF, along with Soldiers from 511th, searched more than 200 vehicles. The U.S. forces were there in an advisory role, said 1st Lt. Lynnette Jefferson, a platoon leader with 511th MP Co. “Our Soldiers knew what was expected of them,” she said. “They understood that the checkpoints were an IP responsibility.” Jefferson said the MPs have trained with the IPs on conducting vehicle and personnel searches, conducting joint patrols and reacting to IEDs, small arms fire and precision gun fire.
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Camp Teaches Iraqi Children Basketball
By Staff Sgt. Tony M. Lindback
3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT)
PATROL BASE LION’S DEN — Radwaniyah area children were treated to something a little out of the ordinary when U.S. Soldiers at Patrol Base Lion’s Den held a basketball camp recently.
Holding a basketball camp where Soldiers could teach lessons in teamwork, discipline and hard work, resulted from Staff Sgt. Christopher Dickerson and his co. cmdr., Capt. Sean Morrow, putting their heads together.
Dickerson and Morrow wanted Co B, to give back to the community and get the kids in the area together. Their idea captured the support of many company Soldiers, some of whom, like Sgt. Dwight Williams, added ideas and manpower to make the camp a hit. Williams has a brother who holds a basketball camp at home every summer. Williams said he tries to make it to the camp to help each year, but donates $500 to sponsor 5 children when he can’t be there. “Being over here this time, I got to work with the Iraqi kids and I felt just like I was back at home,” Williams said. “I was able to give back to the community.”
Giving back to Radwaniyah has involved more than just teaching basketball. One sheikh said the security the Americans had established was the first gift to the community. “Thanks to God, the IA and the CF, the security is very good,” said Sheikh Al-Tharib, a local leader in Radwaniyah. “That makes a good situation where our kids can play soccer, or come here and learn basketball.”
Teaching the children basketball, an American game, instead of soccer - a much more common game in Iraq - had its purpose. The Soldiers wanted to share American culture, but they also wanted to get everyone on common ground, starting off as beginners.
Eighteen children showed up for the first day of the 3-day camp, 27 came on the second day and there were 47 by the last day. “It’s just like spreading the word back home; if one kid likes it, he’s going to tell a friend and then he’ll tell a friend,” Williams said. “We were just glad to have so many kids come out.”
The children formed teams and played a championship game at the culmination of camp, allowing them to show off what they had learned. They were then treated to a cookout and given awards. Twenty-five children got one more thing, something they held dearly as they walked away – their very own Quran. “In my brother’s camp (in Birmingham) we give out Bibles,” Williams said. “Here, a lot of families don’t have Qurans, so we gave out Qurans … Giving out a Quran is letting them know, ‘I respect your religion, just like I respect mine.’” Local sheikhs happily brought the Qurans in at the request of Morrow.
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