Iraqi, Coalition troops detain 29 in raid

by Spc. Amanda McBride
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FOB KALSU, Iraq (May 6, 2008) — In an effort to clear out criminals in the area, Iraqi army soldiers raided several houses in the city of Jabella, Iraq, May 2. With support from coalition forces, the raid resulted in the detainment of 29 suspected insurgents. Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 31st Brigade, 8th IA Division, led the early morning raid, with help from Soldiers with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, currently attached to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

"This raid was very successful," said 2nd Lt. Kyle Comfort, a native of Anniston, Ala., and currently assigned to Company B. "Once the operation got rolling, they already had a cordon off of the city." With information from Iraqi intelligence, the soldiers set out to start clearing the area of caches, suspected criminals and illegal weapons. "This was actually a completely Iraqi army (conducted) raid," Comfort said. "They were in charge of planning and coordinating the operation."

The goal of the raid was to surprise criminals inside the houses, with Iraqi soldiers going door to door of those buildings targeted. Throughout the mission, there was always a coalition force presence, but the IA had control of the raid. "We simply provided support by following behind their operation," Comfort said. "We have done several operations where we have supported the Iraqi army."

During the raid, Iraqi soldiers came across 58 illegal AK-47s, two SKS assault rifles and assorted ammunition. Sgt. First Class Lyle Whitted, assigned to Company B, described the mission as a success due to the capture of possible insurgents. The detainees and weapons were turned over to the IA soldiers for further questioning. The daytime raid was another operation conducted in support of Marne Rugged, an operation to establish security for local Iraqi communities against al-Qaida in Iraq and criminal forces.

Soldiers assigned to Company B, 2-502nd Infantry Regiment, pull security on a street during a raid in Jabella, Iraq, May 2. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amanda McBride).

Source: MNF-Iraq. Digg!