Show of force helps to decrease insurgent activity in Tal Afar
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Story and photos by Spc. Blair Larson
MOSUL, Iraq- Sometimes all it takes to deter a terrorist is the presence of Multinational Forces in the area. Soldiers from Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) are using this idea to quell the insurgency in Tal Afar, Iraq, a city of approximately 300,000, located 50 kilometers west of Mosul.
Tal Afar was once the site of major terrorist operations. As recently as September, when terrorist activity caused residents to flee the city, insurgents used this small city at the base of the mountains as a center for their activities.
When Soldiers from the 2-14 arrived in November, they were determined to stabilize the security situation in Tal Afar. By increasing the number of patrols and missions in the city, they hope to send a message to the terrorists and also to the people of Tal Afar.
“Our presence gives a face to the U.S. forces here, and by being out in the streets, we have seen a decrease in terrorist activity,” said Capt. Keith Walters, Troop B commander.
At important strategic sites throughout the city, the cavalry Soldiers have been conducting fixed-site security missions to reinforce the security provided by the Iraqi Police and the Iraqi National Guard. From their positions, the Soldiers can overwatch the city, searching for terrorists setting out explosives or mortar tubes.
Increased vehicle patrols within the city have also served to disrupt terrorist operations. Convoys of Stryker vehicles can be seen in every part of the city during the day and night.
Mortar fire has also been an important operational asset for the Cavalry’s mission. By directing mortar fire on the edge of the city, Soldiers can send a show-of-force message to the insurgents without risking injury to the residents of the Tal Afar.
“Our mortar fire acts as a show of force to let the terrorists know that, if we want to, we can reach out and touch them,” said 1st Lt. Michael Gretz, the fire support officer for Troop B.
The Soldiers also hope to gain more support from the people of Tal Afar. Their presence in the city gives the residents a feeling of better security. They hope that feeling will translate into courage and bring more people to serve in the police force and the Iraqi National Guard.
“If they see us doing this for their country, they may be more willing to come out and do the same,” said Staff Sgt. Terry Holmes of Troop B.
The police and residents of the city are slowly beginning to show more cooperation with Multi-National Forces. The local police have proven helpful because they are familiar with the neighborhoods and are a credible presence with the people who live in the city. The Soldiers are also receiving more intelligence reports and tips from residents, which lead to arrests of important terrorist leaders and confiscation of weapons caches.
“We want to work together,” said one police captain who has helped U.S. forces in detaining insurgents in the city.
While victory may not come quickly in their campaign to win over the city of Tal Afar, the security situation is slowly improving. The Soldiers believe that, with time, the Iraqi police and the Iraqi National Guard will take a greater role in securing Tal Afar as Multi-National Forces fade into the shadows.
Capt. Keith Walters (left), Commander of Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) and Staff Sgt. Jason Hasby (right), also of Troop B, watch over the city of Tal Afar, Iraq, with the help of Iraqi policemen.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Blair Larson)
Soldiers from mortar platoon, Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) set up a mortar tube near a police station in Tal Afar, Iraq. The Soldiers are firing mortars outside the city as a show of force, taking care not to damage buildings or injure residents.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Blair Larson)
