Dear Interested Reader,
Successful "Op Warhorse Scimitar" in West Mosul. Patrolling in Kirkuk along Tigris river. Local youth invited to watch soccer matches. Increase in irrigation for Saab Al-Bour. Anbar's new prov. council has 1st meeting with U.S. officials.
In Afghanistan, 1st ID Cav. scouts search unexplored terrain in Kunar prov. Heavy fighting in Helmand prov. Insurgents continue white phosphorus attacks.
Joanna
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May 27, 2009
DoD Imagery
Soldiers Knock on Old Town's Doors
A Soldier with the 1st Cav Div speaks to an Iraqi child during Op Warhorse Scimitar in west Mosul. The child was running up and down this alley way giving high-5s to Soldiers.
(Photo by Jared Sollars)
MOSUL — Insurgents thought they'd found a haven in Old Town, this city's oldest neighborhood on the west side. That was until the Mosul Iraqi NP Bde and 1st Cav Div Soldiers joined forces recently for an op designed to conduct an accurate census, and deny insurgents and criminals the use of the land.
"Op Warhorse Scimitar was conducted jointly with ISF on the west side of Mosul, and what we've done not only for this mission, but for the last several months, is we've embedded in the ISF formations, and conducted clearing ops throughout the periphery of what is called west Mosul," said 3rd "Warhorse" Bn Cmdr, Lt. Col. Thomas Cipolla.
This op lasted 15 days and spanned 4 of the 6 distinct neighborhoods of Old Town. The Coalition and ISF traversed the narrow alleyways and streets together, clearing 5,780 buildings in 4 neighborhoods and detaining 7 individuals suspected of terrorist activities.
"We're actually doing some good with the NP,” said Staff Sgt. John Nightingale, a plt sgt with the 1st Cav. Div. “They're catching onto our actions, how we clear houses, how we walk in formation, why we stagger trucks, and how we act toward the Iraqi civilians we encounter. They're really starting to catch on.”
"We're getting a lot of positive feedback from the neighborhoods about the op," said Hendrix. "We've had a large decrease in significant activities in these neighborhoods. We're working with local Police to continue patrols in these areas, and that has been successful. I think that the impact and effect we wanted, we're starting to see."
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq RSS
Patrol in Kirkuk
(Photos by Sgt. Gustavo Olgiati)
U.S. Soldiers attached to 1st Plt, Alpha Co, 1st Bn, 8th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div, Fort Hood, Texas, patrol an area in the Tigris River banks, May 11.
Army Pvt. Jerry Yerden provides security during a joint patrol in the Tigris River banks.
Army 1st Lt. Jason Uphoff, 1st Plt Leader, Alpha Co, talks with Iraqi army soldiers.
Army 1st Lt. Uphoff provides security.
Army 1st Lt. Nathan Browning, Bravo Plt leader, talks with an IP officer during a patrol in the village of Hawija, May 12.
An IP officer tries to trade knifes with Army Sgt. Eduardo Luna, an armored crewman attached to 1st Bn, during a patrol in the village of Hawija.
Army Cpl. Greg Reagan, a combat medic attached to 1st Bn, provides security.
Army 1st Lt. Nathan Browning shakes hands with a local sheik.
Army Staff Sgt. Sheyn Semetara, an armored crewman attached to 1st Bn, provides security.
Army 1st Lt. Browning talks with an IP officer.
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq RSS
Soccer Game in Baghdad
(Photos by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick)
Army Staff Sgt. Samuel McAllister of 319th Abn FAR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, provides security near a soccer field in Karadah, eastern Baghdad, May 8. The local Iraqi public was invited to watch a youth soccer match, followed by a game between U.S. Soldiers of 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, and Iraqi NP.
Army Staff Sgt. McAllister gives an Iraqi boy a "high-5."
Army Staff Sgt. James Richard of 315th Psyops Co, poses with Iraqi children at a soccer field.
Army Sgt. John Palmer of HHC, 3rd BCT, holds a soccer ball donated in memory of Army Pfc. Nick Madaras.
Soldiers of 2nd Bn, 505th PIR, 3rd BCT, arrive at a soccer field. The Soldiers are part of a joint soccer team with Iraqi NP.
Iraqi NP and Soldiers of 3rd BCT, pass around a soccer ball prior to a game.
A Soldier of 3rd BCT, kicks a soccer ball while practicing before a soccer game.
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MNF-I
A Wet Future for Saab Al-Bour Irrigation
By Capt. Cory Angell
BAGHDAD — The Directorate General of Water Resources for Baghdad, Thair Dahri, visited Pump Station One in Saab al-Bour, May 16, to encourage students learning new skills, and see firsthand the recent increase in irrigation. "This increase means more than 6,000 acres of land will be irrigated," said Thair. "We're committed to increasing the ability to maintain this pump station as well."
Thair talked with 18 students training as operators at the station, and said that the ministry is working on getting them employed. "We've helped increase the output of Pump Station One from 2 cubic meters per second to 4 cubic meters per second," said Capt. Philip Benner, asst engr, 56th Stryker BCT. "This has doubled the capacity of the station providing irrigation water to Saab al-Bour and Abu Ghuraib."
Benner said they are also looking to provide excavating equipment, so the Iraqis can better maintain the canal system. This additional equipment along with 18 new operators, who will graduate the training course July 10, will increase their ability to sustain the progress. "This project also helped fill the Ghrai Bawi canal with irrigation water," said Benner. "This is the first time in years that that canal has had significant water."
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II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) RSS
Anbar's New Provincial Council Has First Meeting With U.S. Officials
Story by Cpl. Meg Murray
Rabaa al-Alwani (left), the acting secretary and one of 8 Sahawa al-Iraq and Nat'l Independents Coalition reps on the Anbar Provincial Council, speaks with 2 Iraqi officials during a council meeting at the Provincial Govt Center in Ramadi, May 9.
AR RAMADI – Although some of the council members wore traditional Arab robes or vibrant headdresses, while others wore business suits, they were unified in purpose – carving out a brighter future for the Al Anbar province. Several of the MNF-W officials have had the opportunity to meet some of the council members in the past, but this marked the first time the council came together as a group to meet with MNF-W leaders. Among the coalition officials present were Maj. Gen. R.T. Tryon, the comm. gen. of MNF-W, Brig. Gen. John Wissler, the dep. comm. gen. of MNF-W, and James Soriano, the team leader of the U.S. State Dept's PRT, responsible for efforts in Al Anbar.
"This meeting is about communication between Iraqis and Americans," said Sheikh Nasir al-Nimrawi, 1 of 3 reps of the Nat'l Movement for Reform and Development, serving on the council. "We can help each other fix the problems in Anbar."
New policies instituted by the GoI dictated that the size of provincial councils be based on the population of the province. The GoI also mandated a certain level of female representation, and currently, 7 of the 29 council members are women.
The council members represent 7 separate political parties, and come from a plethora of backgrounds. Several members are sheiks and politicians, but the council also consists of lawyers, businessmen, teachers, doctors and bankers. Because of the vast diversity of experience among council members, Soriano offered a way for the Americans to help. "In the near future, we would like to propose some training programs, so the council members can better understand their roles and responsibilities," said Soriano.
In the near future, U.S. forces will depart Iraq, and Soriano said the local govt must be ready to unilaterally support its people. "The people of Anbar are now looking to the council to improve basic services," Soriano began, "and that's evidence of the changes that have occurred here in the last 2 years."
After the meeting, the Iraqis and Americans departed the room speaking about their new-found friends, and looking forward to the chance to help restore a peaceful way of life to Iraq's largest, and one of its most diverse, provinces.
Maj. Gen. Tryon chats with Qassim al-Fahadawi, the gov. of Al Anbar province.
Brig. Gen. John Wissler speaks with Dr. Jassim al-Halbusi (center), the chairman of the Anbar Provincial Council, and Sadun al-Ubaydi (left), the council vice chairman.
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3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division RSS
1st ID Cavalry Scouts Search Afghanistan Unexplored Terrain
(Photos by Staff Sgt. David Hopkins)
Army Sgt. Levi Bradstream, an infantryman pulls security as Spc. Anthony Janda comes up an ancient trail over a mountain in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Kunar, April 10. Bradstream, and Janda, a medic, both serve with C. Troop, 6th Sqdrn, 4th Cav Regt, 3rd BCT, 1st ID. The troop was patrolling the area to search for caves and enemy passages, from which they'd been receiving enemy contact.
Army Staff Sgt. Eric Winn and Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Carswell from C. Troop, scan a mountain slope with their weapons, before their troop departs on a patrol. The patrol to search for caves and enemy passages was the 1st done in that region in more than 2 years.
Soldiers with C. Troop climb a rugged mountain slope.
Soldiers with C. Troop and ANA soldiers, cross a foot bridge over the Kunar River.
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American Forces Press Service
U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases
Afghan Commandos Kill 18 Enemy Fighters in Helmand Province
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2009 – Afghan army commandos, assisted by CF, have killed 18 enemy fighters and confiscated significant arms and drug caches in the city of Marjeh in the Nad Ali district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday and today, military officials reported.
Heavy fighting ensued when the combined elements launched a multi-day op to secure the city’s Loy Cherah Bazaar yesterday. The bazaar is a militant stronghold and narcotics processing hub for southern Afghanistan, officials said.
After ensuring there were no civilians in the area, the combined force called for air strikes against known enemy fighting positions, killing a number of militants. Another 3 enemy fighters were killed when the combined elements observed them planting a bomb in a nearby road. Finally, 2 suicide bombers exploded as they tried to infiltrate the security perimeter.
During the op, the combined force discovered several rifles, more than 2 pounds each of processed heroin and morphine, and more than 10 tons of black tar opium. The estimated value of the confiscated drugs is $750 million.
More than 90% of Afghanistan's opium crop is harvested in Helmand province, officials said. The majority of the drug crop is processed into black tar opium in Marjeh, then is smuggled out of the country for further refinement to the finished heroin product. Half of militant funding comes from drug trafficking, officials added, noting that the seizure of the illicit drugs will greatly hinder the militants' ability to finance their activities.
The op continues, as intel revealed that senior militant leaders have directed neighboring cmdrs to assemble fighters, and reinforce the fighting in an effort to recapture the drug safe haven. Additional enemy forces from Pakistan also have been called upon to reinforce the ongoing battle, officials said. Helmand’s gov. broadcast a radio message today warning people to avoid going to the bazaar, stating that the militants care only for drugs, money and power, and that they would think nothing of harming innocent Afghans.
In other news from Afghanistan, Afghan and CF detained 9 suspects in 2 separate ops in Afghanistan today, in addition to 6 detained yesterday.
In the Tere Zayi district of eastern Afghanistan’s Khost province, Afghan and CF detained 5 suspects early this morning during an op designed to capture the leader of a bomb-making cell, responsible for conducting attacks in the province.
In a separate operation in Helmand province’s Nad Ali district, combined forces took fire from militants as they approached a village where 4 suspects were thought to be hiding. CF returned fire and called for air support to suppress the attack, which ended the engagement. Officials said it’s too early to know how many militants may have been injured or killed during the encounter. The forces questioned the men at the targeted compound, subsequently detaining 4 suspected militants without incident.
In ops yesterday: In Khost province, Afghan army commandos, assisted by CF, were searching the home of a suspected militant when they received credible info from a local resident about a nearby roadside bomb. The commandos located and safely removed the bomb, then detained 6 men suspected of planting it.
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CJTF-101 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Insurgents continue white phosphorus attacks
BAGRAM (May 19, 2009) - Today, militants continued to attack ISAF personnel, using white
phosphorus munitions. In Gayan District, Paktika province, insurgents mortared an ISAF COP with white phosphorus and high explosive rounds. No injuries or damage were reported.
This past week, 2 other cases of enemy white phosphorus use have been recorded in Regional Command-East, following the 11 May release of 38 declassified instances of insurgent white phosphorus access and misuse against personnel.
On May 16, ISAF troops in Bamiyan discovered a large cache of various ordnance, including 9 82mm white phosphorus mortar rounds. The rounds, which were photographed as evidence, were collected for destruction.
Also on May 16, an ISAF unit located a white phosphorus 107mm rocket emplaced in the vicinity of an ISAF FOB in Kama District, Nangahar province. The rocket, which had been aimed in the direction of the base, was later safely disarmed.
7 82 mm mortar rounds, 5 of which are white phosphorus.
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