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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Oct 6, 2008 - 12:39:05 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| A Soldier from 1st BCT, 101st AD searches for a cache near Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq. Over the weekend, Soldiers from 1st BCT, 101st AD detained a man for possessing explosives and weapons in his home. The battalion credits the success in their area to the competency of Iraqi Security Forces and the local citizen's willingness to work with them. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny) |
TIKRIT, Iraq - Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assualt), conducted multiple operations in the Salah ad-Din Province over the weekend, resulting in the capturing of individuals suspected of insurgent activity, the uncovering of weapons,and ammunition caches and foiling of improvised explosive device emplacements.
The 1st BCT, 101st AD Soldiers in Balad continued to reap the benefits of successful reconciliation over the past several weeks as intelligence tips from local citizens led them to two more caches over the weekend. These caches consisted of mortar rounds, homemade explosives, rocket-propelled grenades; assault and long-range rifles and ammunition; as well as communication devices commonly used to detonate explosives.
"The population of Balad and the surrounding communities have done a tremendous job of turning in weapons and explosives that otherwise might have been used to target innocent civilians," said 1st Lt. Scott Marler, a spokesman for 1st BCT, 101st AD the unit responsible for the Balad area. "The reconciliation that has moved forward in this area is possible because of the improved security produced by Iraqis taking responsibility for their communities, whether that is Iraqi Security Forces patrolling neighborhoods or civilians turning over caches."
In the northern portion of the province, a source-driven operation yielded the detention of seven individuals suspected of insurgent activity in and around Bayji. Five of the individuals were on the Coalition force key individual list.
Also near Bayji, Iraqi Police foiled an insurgent attempt to emplace an IED in the restive city of Siniyah.
"The IPs in the greater-Bayji area have been extremely attentive to IED emplacers on the roads here," said Lt. Col. Peter Wilhelm, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment commander, whose battalion is responsible for the Bayji area. "Their vigilance is crucial because CF cannot be everywhere."
In al-Rega, near Samarra, the site of a large cache find last week, Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-Division North Soldiers acted on a tip from a local citizen and found a small cache consisting of 155mm artillery rounds and a mortar round.
In the southeast portion of the province, near Yethrib, another source-driven joint raid resulted in the detention of a man after searching his home and uncovering explosives and miscellaneous weapons.
According to MND-N Soldiers near Yethrib, recent gains in security are attributed to the noticeable difference in the confidence and resolution of the ISF through routine joint operations and the establishment of a Joint Security Coordination Center in Yethrib, which opened June 1.
"Stabilization of security conditions in the area southeast of Balad have clearly provided local Iraqi Government leaders room to conduct day-to-day business and their citizens a renewed hope for better economic opportunities for the future," said Maj. Elton Crawford, an executive officer within 1st BCT, 101st AD.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| An Iraqi Policeman prepares for an operation in the city of Samarra, Iraq. Iraqi Security and Coalition force Soldiers this weekend located another cache in the city of al-Rega, near Samarra, after a local citizen led them to the location. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny) |
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