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FOB RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq, September 2, 2006 - The Baghdad suburb of Adhamiyah has developed into a hotspot of activity over the past six weeks, owing to stepped up combined operations between Iraqi and Coalition soldiers. A run of successes was kicked off by the July 30 capture of the area's third most wanted terrorist by Iraqi and Multi-National Division - Baghdad troops. Since then, a string of terrorists and kidnappers have been caught, numerous weapons caches found, and several kidnap victims rescued, all owing to the work of the joint forces. Their actions came as part of Amaliya Ma'an ila Al-Amam, or Operation Together Forward, an Iraqi-led strategy concentrating on disrupting murders, kidnappings and bombings around Baghdad. The suspect taken into custody is believed to have played a lead role in directing and financing sectarian murders and kidnappings, as well as road-side bombings against Coalition and Iraqi security forces. In a combined mid-morning cordon and search operation, MND-B soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment discovered the individual at a hospital complex in Adhamiyah. It was the second high-value capture for the brigade in two weeks. Soldiers from the 67th Armor Regiment captured another individual July 25. "In a thorough search of a building with a lot of people in it, the attention to detail at the soldier level accounts for this capture," said LTC Brian Winski, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment commander. "The soldiers knew who they were looking for and methodically found him." "The key to success was all of the junior officers and noncommissioned officers who were able to make good decisions based on the intent of the operation," added CPT Will Arnold, commander, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry. The next day, 6th Iraqi Army Division soldiers found a cache of 18 mortar rounds in a trashcan. By Friday of that week American troops had found a large weapons cache and detained four suspected terrorists. In a predawn raid on August 4, acting off a tip, soldiers from 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment cordoned off the area surrounding a house in the neighborhood. Four individuals inside the house were detained. During a search, the soldiers found 130 anti-personnel mines and one anti-tank mine rigged as an improvised explosive device, as well as assorted other ammunition and bomb making materials. The action came as part of Operation Guinness, a battalion-level component of Operation Together Forward. "We received some very specific intelligence that led us to the site," said LTC Kevin Milton, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment commander. Pivotal to the operation's success was the blending of various skill sets to bring the right forces to the battle. "Operation Guinness was an excellent example of intelligence-driven operations that integrated all available assets," said MAJ Bruce Coyne, operations officer, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment. "After detailed rehearsals, the battery commander maintained momentum through precise command and control of his assets." "We have rehearsed and executed raids like this many times, and we were able to enter and search the target house quickly and smoothly," said CPT Michael Stewart. "Our soldiers are simply the best in the profession, and we can do this anytime, anywhere." Progress continued as the weeks passed. On August 18, a tip from and Iraqi citizen helped US and Iraqi troops rescue four kidnap victims and nab three kidnappers. They also found a weapons cache. On August 23, two Iraqi kidnap victims were freed by US soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division. US troops and Iraqi security forces were in the area as part of the expansion of Operation Forward Together. Describing the scene, soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment said they observed an Iraqi man running from a house nearby their position. When they caught up to him, he said he and a friend were being held there against their will. He said he escaped when his kidnappers, hearing the sound of Coalition humvees nearby, fled to the roof of the building in which he was being held. "The guy was running away, and we actually had to catch up to him," said SPC Kenneth Correa. "He said that his friend was still in the house." Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers surrounded the home; inside they found the second victim, whose hands and feet were bound. The kidnappers managed to flee the scene before the troops were able to cordon off the area. "Over the last couple of months, (kidnapping) has been one of the focuses," said LTC Brian Winski, commander, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment. The combined operations over the past several weeks were designed to reduce levels of violence and associated crime in northern Baghdad, and to reinforce the Iraqi government's control of the city. "The Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi government are in the lead in planning and conducting these combined operations," said MG James D. Thurman, commanding general, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. "We continue to work alongside them in their endeavors to reduce sectarian violence, which has resulted in a 36 percent reduction of murders across the city of Baghdad since we began earlier this month." |
