Combined forces "Stop the Rockets!"
CAMP AL SAQR, Iraq - "Stop the rockets!" that's what Lt. Col. Jay Allen said as 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, kicked off Operation Rock Bottom, a three-day multi-national force operation starting Nov. 19 and ending Nov. 21, to clear its area of insurgents.
Task Force Mustangs was augmented with the brigade reconnaissance team (BRT) from the 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, a weapon's company from 2-24 Marines, engineer assets from the division, a ground penetrating radar team comprised of U.S., British, and Australian Soldiers and a company of Iraqi National Guard.
For three days and nights, the task force searched areas where rockets have been fired. They placed a complex obstacle on a road that is known to have heavy weapons trafficking. Every house and farm was searched.
The BRT provided a screen on the flank, as the mortars conducted registration, ensuring their ability to have responsive fires.
The searches netted numerous small arms, 10 detainees and three rockets. The message from 1-8 Cavalry was loud and clear: Multi-National Forces will not hesitate to respond to attacks from the south.
The inclusion of Marines demonstrated to insurgents that the perceived "buffer zone" between the Marine Corps and Army's sector is not safe haven for them, Allen said.
Allen said more large-scale missions along with continued patrols in this region are critical to the safety of Baghdad.
Release #041124k
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