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Marines reopen Iraqi supply lanes following Fallujah battle

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 2004111910936
Story by Sgt. Luis R. Agostini

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 16, 2004) -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment's civil affairs team briefly restored access to and from Saqlawiyah, Iraq, Nov. 16 following the Fallujah invasion.

The U.S. Army barricaded the town 10 days prior to the battle for Fallujah to eliminate possible insurgent activity.

The town had been cut off from fuel, food and water for more than a week, leaving the residents without access to power and basic living necessities. More than 50,000 Iraqis reside in the relatively affluent, agricultural suburb in the northwest corner of Fallujah.

"They have lots of chickens, farms, goats, sheep and eggs, but they didn't have the things they needed to cook with, no fuel for generators or access to medical clinics," said Capt. Alex Henegar, 3/5 civil affairs team leader.

Eighteen flatbed trucks, driven by Iraqis, delivered vital products to the town, including flour, rice, beans, vegetables and baby formula.

To filter traffic to and from the town, Marines established a vehicle checkpoint on opposite sides of a bridge that connects Saqlawiyah to the rest of Iraq. Four approximately three hours, Marines searched all vehicles and persons entering and exiting the city for any illegal contraband.

As the Fallujah conflict began, Iraqis leaving Fallujah swarmed the nearby town, causing a swelling in the local population. Multiple families took over single-unit homes, and many began taking refuge in the local schools.

"(Barricading the city) wouldn't be such a big deal if the city wasn't swollen with displaced people from Fallujah," said Hennegar, a 30-year-old native of Lookout Mountain, Ga.

The local economy was also affected by the shutdown. Local merchants could not go to the Fallujah markets to sell and purchase goods.

Multinational forces throughout Iraq are working to assist the Iraqi people in restoring their lives, businesses and property through civil affairs projects, said Hennegar.