Stryker Brigade News

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Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police Work Hand in Hand

ASR CHARLESTON, Iraq – On August 28, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Iraqi Army (3/3rd IA) Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hogger Salahaddin Abdul, were conducting patrols along alternate supply route Charleston when an IED detonated.

Just after sunrise, the local Iraqi Police (IP) reported the IED to the IA. Task Force Automatic believes this IED may have been the completed IED mentioned in recent intelligence reports, which AIF was planning to place in the area.

The IP discovered the detonated IED at 0830 hours and reported it to 3/3rd IA directly. Coalition forces were not involved at all, and there were no casualties. Both IA and IP demonstrated ability to work and communicate with each other to meet the common goal of a safer, more secure Ninewah Province.

Joint Operation Unearths Caches and Detains Nine

MUHALLABIYA, Iraq – On August 27, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Iraqi Army (IA) Brigade conducted a cordon and search operation in Muhallabiya with the support of Task Force (TF) Automatic and 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (2-3 ACR), discovering several weapons caches and detaining nine suspected terrorists.

Lieutenant Colonel Ra’ad Naif Haroosh, 2/3rd IA Battalion Commander, led two of his companies with a total of 300 soldiers in the operation. The IA established the outer cordon and also executed the door-to-door search of the village.

2/3rd IA, TF Automatic and 2-3 ACR approached the village, divided in three objectives, from three different directions. The three units were on the objectives before sunrise and within 30 minutes of each other.

At 0730 hours, Task Force (TF) Automatic discovered an IED and a buried anti-tank mine with tilt rod in the northern section of the village. TF Automatic’s explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) team reduced the ordinance.

Thirty minutes later 2-3 ACR, a unit adjacent to 1/25th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, discovered a weapons cache in the southern section of Muhallabiya. EOD reduced the cache, which consisted of 8 x 122 mm rounds and 3 x 152 mm rounds.

At 0900 hours, TF Automatic discovered a large cache consisting of 1 x RKG-3 potato grenade, 5 x 107 mm rockets, 27 x 152 mm artillery shells, 2 x 2.75 mm rocket warheads, 1 x 2.75 mm rocket loaders with rockets inside, 83 x 120 mm mortar rounds, 1 x 81 mm, 24 x RPG warheads, 100 x triple tip rounds, 2 x RPG launchers with over 500 57 mm rounds, 10 x artillery fuses, 6 x Motorola IED detonator kits, 6 x boxes of BKC rounds (3 x boxes contained armor piercing rounds), 1 x roll of copper wiring, 1 x drum 7.62 mm, 1 x anti-aircraft gun with spare barrel, 1 x 60 mm mortar system complete, 5 x 60 mm tubes, 1 x 81 mm tube, 2 x 81 mm bi-pods, 1 x 120 mm bi-pod, 5 x shape charges, 15 x 60 mm rounds complete with fuse/shell and 1 x SA missile. 2/3rd IA and 2-3 ACR assisted in reducing the cache.

The joint operation resulted in nine detainees. Five individuals were relatives of a high value individual and tested very high for bomb-making materials. Four individuals were on 2/3rd IA or TF Automatic’s black list.

Detainees included Mostafa Mohammed Abed Al Rahman, Hazim Mohammed Abed Al Rahman, Mohammed Abed Rahman Mustafa, Abed Al Mawjood Mohammed Abed Al, Abed Al Hakeem Mohammed Abed Al Rahman, Hussein Ali Mustafa, Shakir Ibrahim Abdullah, Hussein Ali Mohammed Mohammed Ismael and Yahya Abdul Rahmin Amin.

TF Automatic returned with all the detainees to Q-West Base Complex for further questioning. All elements departed the objectives before 1530 hours.

2/3rd IA demonstrated exceptional planning and executing procedures throughout the operation. The IA worked closely with TF Automatic and 2-3 ACR to achieve yet another success in the Tigris River Valley.

NCO Academy Goes to the Range

Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, Iraq – On August 26, Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers completed the rifle range portion of the 3-week Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy course on Q-West Base Complex.

“Forty-four soldiers from 3rd IA Brigade began the course on August 20,” said NCO Academy Chief Instructor Sergeant First Class Thomas Trott.

On Day 1 of the rifle marksmanship training exercise, IA soldiers zeroed and practiced qualifying with AK-47 rifles. On Day 2, the soldiers qualified and conducted reflexive fire training learning the basics of clearing a room.

“Seven soldiers qualified as expert today,” said Trott. “Shooting at a 50 meter target, they were able to fire 30 rounds inside the center circle.”

Training begins at 0800 and ends at 1600 seven days a week for sergeants and staff sergeants. Upcoming training events include the obstacle course, first aid, and a cumulative mounted operations exercise. The soldiers will graduate from the NCO Academy on September 12.

TF Automatic and 917th CSG Deliver School Supplies

JEDELLA ANUK, Iraq – Over 15 schools in the surrounding villages of Q-West Base Complex were restocked with school supplies yesterday for the advent of the new school year, expected to commence on September 1. Task Force (TF) Automatic joined efforts with 917th Command Support Group (CSG) to deliver school supplies to several villages, including Argubah and Jeddella Anuk.

TF Automatic began the day at 10:00 AM, delivering the last supplies just after 9:00 PM. The team consisted of Sergeant Major McCormick, Staff Sergeant Dale Horn, Specialist Steven Nichols, and Private First Class Chris Hill, supported by two interpreters.

“We delivered over 70 boxes of school supplies to four schools today,” said Hill. “One box has enough notebooks, pens, pencils, and other supplies for 8 Iraqi children.”

TF Automatic and 917th CSG have stocked the shelves of over half the thirty schools in the area. The TF is planning a hefty school supply distribution operation just before the start of school, hopefully filling up the remaining schools.

3/3rd Iraqi Army Detains Four Suspected Terrorists

MAKUK, Iraq –Early on August 24, a platoon from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Iraqi Army (IA) Brigade, led by Lt. Mansur, detained four suspected terrorists while conducting combat operations east of Qayarrah.

The IA stopped two individuals in a vehicle at a traffic control point in Osweja. After conducting a thorough search of the vehicle, the IA found a great deal of Jihad propaganda promoting the AIF.

The IA soldiers questioned the men because one of their names closely resembled a known terrorist on the black list. Both men tested very high for bomb-making materials. The IA confiscated the Jihad propaganda and detained the suspected terrorists for further questioning.

Later on the same night, the unit detained two more individuals in a home on the southern edge of the town Makuk. The individuals also tested high for bomb-making materials. The IA also seized over three thousand dollars. The individuals are currently in the IA’s custody for further questioning.

This is just the latest example of Iraqi Security Forces making great strides in capturing terrorists, which either live in or are passing through their area of operations. With the help of the local citizens, Iraqi Security Forces are making much progress in establishing a more secure Iraq.