QRF 1 continues Basra success in al-Huteen

AL-HUTEEN, Basra, Iraq (April 24, 2008) – Quick Reaction Force 1, from the 1^st Iraqi Army Quick Reaction Force kicked of the latest stage of Operation Charge of the Knights this morning when they began clearing and searching

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     Al-Huteen, part of the Five Mile Market neighborhood of Basra, had been considered a stronghold for criminal elements of the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia.

     But when the soldiers of QRF 1 moved into the city this morning the local citizens actively welcomed and cooperated with them.

     “The extremely successful operations earlier this month by the Iraqi Army in al-Quibla and al-Hyyaniyah showed the people that the army is here to help them by getting rid of criminals and outlaws,” said Capt. Daniel C. Lammers, 1^st IA (QRF) Military Transition Team assistant operations officer.

     Many of the soldiers took a quick break during the clearing operations to get a cold drink or an ice-cream bar from one of the many local shops that remained open throughout the day.

In addition to the shops, local citizens quickly filled the streets after the initial clearing phase was over and the streets were safe. Children brought water to the Iraqi soldiers and many of the men sat down on the curb to share a glass of chai with camouflage-clad soldiers of Quick Reaction Force 1.

     Marines and soldiers embedded with the Iraqi units as advisors were present during the operation to provide support, but the Iraqi Army took control of the operation themselves from planning to execution.

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     “The military transition teams have provided support, advice, mentorship and valuable tactical links to Coalition resources,” said Col. Robert F. Castellvi, 1^st IA (QRF) MiTT senior adviser. “But make no mistake, this has been an Iraqi Army led operation and the results have been stunning.”

     The searches themselves turned up several weapons caches including one buried beneath an outdoor prayer area that consisted of eight improvised explosive devices, four rocket propelled grenade launchers and 24 warheads, three PKC machine guns, over a thousand rounds of machine gun ammunition, a complete 120 millimeter mortar system, various IED making materials and explosives along with more than twenty mortar rounds of various sizes.

     Discovering caches like this one, often with the help of local citizens severly restricts the ability of the criminals to attack Iraqi and Coalition forces.

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Prior to the clearing of al-Quibla indirect fire attacks on Iraqi and Coalition positions were almost routine, but have become rarer and rarer as the Iraqi Army and police have returned to neighborhoods like al-Huteen to provide security and stability.

     “In less than one month’s time [the Iraqi Army] has conducted five major operations,” said Castellvi. “All of them were Iraqi Army led, maneuvering multiple units on an urban battlefield. They have taken back the city and given the initiative back to the Government of Iraq.”

-USMC-