Operation Cowpens

Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Some of the mortar rounds that were discovered during Operation Cowpens on the Jabouri...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Some of the mortar rounds that were discovered during Operation Cowpens on the Jabouri Peninsula, Iraq, are displayed near where they were discovered.  see less | View Image Page

JABOURI PENINSULA, IRAQ

03.30.2006

Courtesy Story

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by Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

JABOURI PENINSULA, Iraq (March 26, 2006) -- Anti-Iraqi Forces on the Jabouri Peninsula have taken a blow because of operations by coalition forces and their Iraqi army counterparts.

Ten days of operations have yielded numerous mortar and artillery rounds, small arms weapons and ammunition, surface-to-air missiles, improvised explosive device materials, other explosives and people deemed supportive to the AIF in this area surrounded on three sides by the ancient Tigris River.

Operation Cowpens - the title given to this multi-national mission " was planned and conducted to degrade the AIF in building and employing improvised explosive devices, in directly engaging coalition forces and to deny resources to the AIF.

Elements of the Fort Carson, Colo., based 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, along with 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division and the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 4th IAD, participated in the mission.

"The IA is the major search element and they're doing an outstanding job," said Capt. Timothy Knoth, commander of Rock Company, 1-8 CAB. "They have an inordinate amount of technical expertise. They (also) provide the initial confirmation or denial of enemy effects."

Rock and War Machine companies of 1-8 CAB provided the bulk of the security elements for the operation as well as assisting with the cache searches using metal detectors and personnel.

Operations began March 19 with an early morning ground and air assault on the peninsula by members of the IA and 1-8 CAB. In this initial movement, Coalition and Anti-Iraqi Forces exchanged small arms fire, inflicting seven confirmed enemy killed in action and detaining numerous AIF, while sustaining two U.S. wounded in action. A large cache of weapons, ammunition and mortar rounds was discovered within hours of the initial movement.

The Jabouri Peninsula is a Sunni dominated region that was traditionally supportive of former despot Saddam Hussein. Some members of the Jabouri tribe opposed Hussein's rule, while others were prominent members of his regime, holding high posts within the former government.

In a country where many make their dwellings out of mud and whatever other scraps they can piece together, the people of this region typically live in homes considered luxurious by Iraqi standards.

Major operations have been conducted twice before on the Jabouri Peninsula. The first operation was in June 2003 " shortly after Baghdad come under coalition forces control " and was led by the Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade. The second operation was conducted in October and November 2004 by the 1st Infantry Division.

Despite continuous efforts to improve the quality of life for citizens of this region, it continues to be a haven and supporter of AIF activities. However, after this latest operation generated large amounts of the AIF supply, some of the residents are becoming supportive of coalition forces presence in the region.

"The people want to help and they've become permissive of our presence in the region," Knoth said.

With increased level of support from the people, as well as with the large number of munitions the unit is finding, Knoth said his Soldiers are to be attributed for their own rise in morale they are feeling after these encouraging signs of change.

"The credit goes to the platoon and squad leaders, the team leaders and the riflemen," he said about the constant, 24-hour a day operation. "The Soldiers (and leaders) are doing great work."

Working side-by-side with their IA counterparts allows the Fighting Eagles of 1-8 CAB an opportunity to utilize the knowledge the local Soldiers possess.

"(The Iraqi Army) is the man-power for the searches," Knoth said. "They're literally turning places upside down to find things."

Operation Cow Pens continues to inflict damage to the AIF efforts in this region. Each mortar, each rocket that is discovered is one less that can injure a member of the coalition forces or local citizens.

During the 10-day mission, Coalition and Iraqi army forces confiscated more than 275 mortars, more than 20 projectiles, more than 15 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, more than 15 rockets, more than five AK- 47 rifles, more than 10 AK-47 magazines, more than 100 pounds of explosives, more than 20 blasting caps, more than 10 hand grenades, more than 10 cell phones, 115 sticks of dynamite, more than five radios and numerous IED-making materials.