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Our Strykers take reins in Mosul again

Aug- 8-2006 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

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SEAN COCKERHAM; The News Tribune

The Stryker brigade from Fort Lewis assumed responsibility for military operations in Mosul on Saturday, just hours after joining in fierce fighting in the northern Iraqi city.

Troops from 3rd Brigade, 2nd infantry Division took over from an Alaska-based Stryker unit that had been set to go home but has since moved south to help stabilize Baghdad.

About 1,400 soldiers from the incoming Fort Lewis brigade have also been detached to Baghdad. That’s roughly a third of the brigade.

Mosul is more stable than the capital, which is 225 miles to the south. But it’s still dangerous.

Fighting raged in eastern Mosul on Friday. Iraqi security forces, with backup from Fort Lewis Stryker troops, repulsed an insurgent attack that included a suicide car bomber, several roadside bombs and small arms fire.

“I think the terrorists wanted very badly to make a huge statement when the (Alaskan Stryker brigade) left the area,” Maj. Robbie Parke, the brigade public affairs officer said in a Monday e-mail from Mosul.

“Unfortunately for them, Mosul police and Iraqi Army had a different idea, and they defeated the attack within a matter of hours,” Parke wrote.

Police estimated that 20 militants were killed in the Friday fighting. Only four bodies have been found, the Associated Press reported. Dozens of suspects were rounded up.


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