• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Release A051117f

Iraqi, U.S. forces make clean sweep of south Baghdad

Multi-National Force-Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. Forces detained dozens of terror suspects during searches in south Baghdad as Operation Clean Sweep continued to clear neighborhoods of terrorist activity.

“Operation Clean Sweep was intended to clean out an area that was known to be used as a way for terrorists to come towards Baghdad from the south as well as an area that a lot of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and IEDs were coming from,” said Lt. Col. Everett Knapp, commander of 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment.

In anticipation of the Dec. 15 nationwide elections, the Soldiers of 1/184th Inf., as well as Iraqi forces from the 4th Public Order Brigade and 1st Commando Brigade, raided about 350 homes and detained 49 suspected terrorists. Military officials said 10 of the suspects were forwarded to detention facilities.

Some of the 1/184 Soldiers set up the outer cordon of the mission while others shadowed their Iraqi counterparts during the operation.

“The Iraqi Soldiers really took the lead (on this mission),” Knapp said. “They don’t need translators; they can tell who the good guys are and who doesn’t belong in a certain situation.”

During the Oct. 15 Constitutional Referendum vote, clearing the area of possible dangers to the democratic process was one of the reasons the U.S. Soldiers swept through the fields, clearing every building that stood in their path.

Knapp said he looks forward to continuing to work with the ISF in the future, adding, “These guys get better every single day. Their professionalism is outstanding.”

- 30 -

THIS STORY HAS ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPHS. TO RECEIVE THE PHOTOS, E-MAIL THE CPIC PRESS DESK AT cpicpressdesk@iraq.centcom.mil <mailto:cpicpressdesk@baghdadforum.com> .

CUTLINES

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A group of Iraqi forces from the 4th Public Order Brigade prepare to search a house during Operation Clean Sweep. U.S. and Iraqi Forces searched 350 houses and detained nearly 50 terror suspects during the operation Oct. 28-29. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan Balda, 4th Brigade Combat Team PAO)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A U.S. Soldier from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment works with a member from the Iraqi Security Forces as they clear a house during Operation Clean Sweep in south Baghdad Oct. 28-29. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan Balda, 4th Brigade Combat Team PAO)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi Commandos conduct clearing operations with Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment during Operation Clean Sweep in south Baghdad Oct. 28-29. More than 350 houses were searched and nearly 50 terror suspects were detained. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan Balda, 4th Brigade Combat Team PAO)