Iraqi Army clears Hyyaniyah of criminal militias

(HYYANIYAH, BASRA, Iraq (April 19, 2008) – Operation Charge of the Knights entered its second phase today as soldiers from Quick Reaction Force 1, 1^st Iraqi Army Quick Reaction Force and the 26^th Brigade, 7^th Iraqi Army Division began securing the al-Hyyaniyah neighborhood of Basra. 

Iraqi soldiers search a home

            Along with elements of the 14^th Iraqi Army Division and the Iraqi Police, QRF 1 and 26^th Brigade went house-to-house through the densely packed streets of al-Hyyaniyah searching for illegal weapons, explosives and other contraband materials.

            The two brigades quickly swept through the town, once a stronghold for the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia, with little resistance from fighters who had battled with Iraqi government forces this March. 

            Using information from local citizens within the neighborhood, the Iraqi Army discovered numerous large caches, improvised explosive devices and heavy weaponry.

            QRF 1 alone found 337 rockets and 5 launchers, 35 mortars and 15 mortar tubes, 102 rocket propelled grenades and 27 launchers as well as an assortment of small arms,

Weapons cache 1

grenades, explosives and IED materials. 

            Criminal elements of the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia had been using those weapons to attack government forces and intimidate the local population until the Government of Iraq began a crackdown in late March. 

            Operation Knights’ Campaign has brought a sense of normalcy back to Basra by limiting the ability of the criminal elements to threaten and terrorize the people of the city.  QRF 1 previously led the clearing of the neighborhood of al-Quibla April 12, in the first stage of Operation Charge of the Knights. 

            Now the al-Anbar based QRF 1 has partnered with the 26^th Brigade, 7^th IA Division, also from al-Anbar, to bring similar security gains to the residents of Hyyaniyah.

            With peace and security restored in Hyyaniyah, the Iraqi Army plans to begin distributing humanitarian aid supplies, like water and halal meals, to the residents as soon as possible.

Iraqi solider treats wounded civilian