Deployed Forces: US forces accompany as Iraqis take lead, arrest wanted individuals

Capt. Timothy Nash
U.S. Division-North

Capt. Chris DeFiori (left), commander, Co. B, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd AAB, 25th ID, and Staff Brig. Gen. Emad (center), discuss the operation objective for a mission in Zanjaliyah Village in the Salah ad-Din province, Aug. 23. (U.S. Army Courtesy Photo)SALAH AD-DIN, Iraq — Iraqi commandos cordoned off an area in the village of Zanjaliyah, here, and arrested five wanted individuals, Aug. 23. The mission was a combined operation, with U.S. Soldiers present to only provide support, if needed.

Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, were on standby to support the Commando Bn., 16th Iraqi army Bde., 4th Iraqi army Division. 

“It was really more of an accompanied operation than a combined operation,” said Col. Jack Daniels, 4th IA Div. stability transition team chief and senior advisor. “All the intelligence data was Iraqi driven. The operations plan was Iraqi driven, and the majority of the troops that took part were Iraqi troops. 

“We just provided support from 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt.,” he said. “Frankly, they could have done it as an independent operation.”

The operation began as an assessment of 4th IA’s capabilities to plan and execute a mission, and was developed with minimal support or assistance from U.S. forces. 

Capt. Chris DeFiori, company commander, Co. B, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd AAB, said the Iraqi soldiers in the 4th IA need very little direct support during their missions. 

“A lot of the times we have to provide a convincing reason for them to take us, because they are a lot more confident and can really handle a lot of this on their own,” DeFiori said. “In the past, they needed us for everything.”

According to Daniels, the mission was a great success and delivered a message to both the Iraqi security forces, here, and their U.S. counterparts. It showed that the ISF, and more specifically the 4th IA, are willing and capable to take over security from the U.S. military when the Soldiers leave Iraq in 2011. 

The next step, Daniels said, is helping the IA work with Iraqi police, as well as local and federal court systems.

“What we are going to see in the 4th IA area, is more and more of the Army working collectively with the police to conduct combined missions,” Daniels said. 

Capt. Timothy NashU.S. Division-NorthSALAH AD-DIN, Iraq — Iraqi commandos cordoned off an area in the village of Zanjaliyah, here, and arrested five wanted individuals, Aug. 23. The mission was a combined operation, with U.S. Soldiers present to only provide support, if needed.Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, were on standby to support the Commando Bn., 16th Iraqi army Bde., 4th Iraqi army Division. “It was really more of an accompanied operation than a combined operation,” said Col. Jack Daniels, 4th IA Div. stability transition team chief and senior advisor. “All the intelligence data was Iraqi driven. The operations plan was Iraqi driven, and the majority of the troops that took part were Iraqi troops. “We just provided support from 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt.,” he said. “Frankly, they could have done it as an independent operation.”The operation began as an assessment of 4th IA’s capabilities to plan and execute a mission, and was developed with minimal support or assistance from U.S. forces. Capt. Chris DeFiori, company commander, Co. B, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd AAB, said the Iraqi soldiers in the 4th IA need very little direct support during their missions. “A lot of the times we have to provide a convincing reason for them to take us, because they are a lot more confident and can really handle a lot of this on their own,” DeFiori said. “In the past, they needed us for everything.”According to Daniels, the mission was a great success and delivered a message to both the Iraqi security forces, here, and their U.S. counterparts. It showed that the ISF, and more specifically the 4th IA, are willing and capable to take over security from the U.S. military when the Soldiers leave Iraq in 2011. The next step, Daniels said, is helping the IA work with Iraqi police, as well as local and federal court systems.“What we are going to see in the 4th IA area, is more and more of the Army working collectively with the police to conduct combined missions,” Daniels said. 

Category: Deployed Forces, News