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Surprise sweep reveals terrorist-free Iraqi town

May-19-2005 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT

Another article from Stars & Stripes featuring the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery.

Link to Full Article
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes

SHEIK IBRAHIM, Iraq — Mohammed Said Abudullah let out an incredulous laugh when asked if terrorists had provided his impoverish villagers with money to harbor weapons and provide a hideout.

“Look at what our children are wearing,” he said, pointing to their broken sandals and tattered clothing. “Look at the dirt on their faces. We are poor. There are no terrorists here. They have not given us money.”

And neither has the U.S. military, the 25-year-old Iraqi pointed out, speaking through a translator.

The 200-house village of Sheik Ibrahim, tucked in the foothills of northern Iraq less than 50 miles from the Syrian border, is difficult to reach.

But as battalions of the Iraqi Army become better trained and equipped to assume security responsibilities of the nation, towns like Sheik Ibrahim will be getting their fair share of attention, Iraqi leaders said.

In the meantime, residents can expect surprise sweeps by U.S. and Iraqi forces as they seek to root out insurgent strongholds, as was done Monday when soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division swooped in, cordoned off the village and had all the military-aged men assemble in the schoolhouse.

The forces have done the same in about 10 towns and villages in the past seven months.


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