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Cobra Sweep cleans up Baghdad district

Army News Service

By Pfc. Erik LeDrew

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 4, 2004) - A cordon and search operation of abandoned apartment buildings suspected of containing explosive materials took place July 28 in Baghdad's Hay Muthana district.

In the last three weeks, more than four large improvised explosive devices were detonated near a traffic circle in the district, which led to the suspicions.

The apartment buildings, now home to hundreds of squatters, were built in the 1980s as part of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's bid to hold the summer Olympics in Baghdad.

Operation Cobra Sweep was a joint effort involving Iraqi Policemen from the Muthana IP station, Iraqi National Guardsmen, and Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

"Our intent was to find IED makers, IED materials and possible storage places for IEDs in an area that is in very close proximity to an IED-laden area," said Capt. Steven Gventer, officer-in-charge of the operation and Company C commander.

After the Cobra troopers and ING Soldiers secured the cordon surrounding the eight-building complex, the IP trucks rolled in with lights flashing.

"Everything happened simultaneously," Gventer said. "We secured the area while the IPs searched three to four buildings at a time."

Although there were traces of explosives in a few rooms, ultimately nothing was found except for a few firearms.

Despite the no-show of IED contraband, the operation was still an excellent demonstration of coordination, Gventer said, because of the massive logistics involved in coordinating it.

"In addition to coordinating with the immediate IPs and ING Soldiers, we also had both an American and an Iraqi [explosive ordnance disposal] team standing by in case we found any explosives."

"On top of that, we had to get permission to work in that area, since it falls just outside my unit's patrol-zone, in the 39th Brigade Combat Team's sector," he said. "Truthfully, it went much smoother than I had anticipated."

There were no shots fired and no injuries, Gventer said. The IPs and ING units cleared the buildings in less than two and a half hours.

"These buildings are clear for the time being," Gventer said. "So we can focus our energies elsewhere for now."