Stryker Brigade News

"[Saeedi] is the direct supervisor of the criminal Haitham al-Badri, who planned and executed the bombing of the Askariya Shrine in Samarra," Mr. Rubaie said.

Saeedi – also known as Abu Humam and Abu Rana – was reportedly captured as he hid in a residential building southwest of Baqouba.

The Iraqi national security advisor said that Saeedi carried out the policy of the al-Qaida in Iraq organization to ignite sectarian riots. According to Rubaie, Saeedi is also accused of supervising the creation of death squads and ordering assassinations, bombings, kidnappings and attacks on Iraqi Police and Army checkpoints.

Rubaie said Saeedi’s arrest has left al-Qaida in Iraq suffering a "serious leadership crisis."

On the same day Saeedi’s capture was announced, Iraqi and Coalition leaders in Adhamiyah, an area of northeastern Baghdad, told reporters they are now focusing on phase two of operations in that neighborhood.

Taming Adhamiyah was part of Operation Together Forward, also known as Amaliya Ma’an ila Al-Amam. With the area secure, leaders are now focusing on restoring civil services – electricity, water, sewer and fuel – to the neighborhood.

“The first part of the operation is not successful unless the second part is successful,” said Maj. Gen. Mahmood Ayoub Bashar, 9th Iraqi Army Division commander.

His unit’s soldiers, along with the Iraqi Police, 6th Iraqi Army Division Soldiers and U.S. Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, moved together to secure the area.

The combined troops were successful, according to Col. Michael Shields, 172nd SBCT commander.

Iraqi troops cleared 23 mosques, combined troops found four caches, and most significantly, they found a factory where improvised explosive devices were made, said Shields.

He was not self-congratulatory, however.

“I do gauge success in the security of Adhamiyah, and the relationship between the people of Adhamiyah and Iraqi and Coalition forces,” Shields said.

According to Brig. Gen. Emad Ismail Ali, Adhamiyah Police chief, the troops are gaining local citizens’ respect.

“We met a lot of people on the ground, and the people are pleased,” he said.

His Police officers worked with Military Police of Iraqi and Coalition forces.

“We are starting to see people stand up to the militias,” said Shields.

The colonel said Iraqi citizens there are turning more and more to Iraqi forces rather than the militias.

The 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division commander saw this as an important aspect of Operation Together Forward.

“Our goal was to regain the trust of the people and to overcome terrorists,” said Brig. Gen. Jabar Mujhed Msad.

With that goal seemingly achieved, the commanders agreed the second phase – restoring civil services – must now find success.

“Our number one concern has been security, but right behind that it is electricity, also water, sewer and fuel availability,” said Shields.

The colonel said 1,700 humanitarian assistance meals were distributed, as well as about 50 power generators.

“None of us in this room would want to live without electricity,” added Bashar. However, he said Adhamiyah citizens went 45 days without it.

Shields praised the citizens for what they endured.

“I commend the Iraqis for their patience,” he said. “Patience in supporting security searches, patience with traffic, [and] patience with lack of services.”

With Coalition and Iraqi support, Adhamiyah is on the road to recovery.

“People are shopping, small businesses are opening back up, but there is a lot of work to do,” said Shields.

For these commanders, complete recovery means a secure Iraq with the necessities of modern life.