Photo By Sgt. Christopher Kozloski | Lt. Col. Phil Brooks, battalion commander of 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment,...... read more read more
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MOSUL, Iraq — Leaders of the "Warhorse" battalion welcomed their Iraqi colleagues to Forward Operating Base Marez for dinner, Sept. 26, to further build the friendship that has developed since the unit began operating in west Mosul in January.
Commanders of 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division hosted the dinner engagement as a belated "thank you" to their Iraqi partners inside Mosul, who now operate independently without U.S. combat support since the June 30 deadline of the Security Agreement to move U.S. combat forces out of major cities. The commanders also welcomed new leaders the Warhorse battalion now work with outside the city.
"This is the first opportunity for all of us to get together since 30 June," said Capt. Bryan Frizzelle, Iraqi Security Forces liaison officer and headquarters company commander of 3rd Battalion. "Now that we don't operate in the city anymore, we don't get to see them as much. This is the first time to really thank them for the great partnership we had."
Lt. Col. Phil Brooks, commander of 3rd Battalion, presented Maj. Gen. Mohammed, the 3rd Federal Police Division commander, and each battalion commander with a certificate of appreciation for their steadfast support and dedication.
Shaykhs Ra'ad and Ali, both from southwestern Ninewah province, and Muhallabiyah Mayor Abd Ibrahim showed their support for 3rd Battalion by attending the dinner.
Prior to the June 30, the Warhorse battalion worked side-by-side with the 3rd FP Div. and elements of 2nd Iraqi Army Div. to secure some of the most dangerous neighborhoods inside Mosul.
Operations Warhorse Resolve and Warhorse Scimitar launched in February and April, respectively, and brought the Iraqi FP and Warhorse battalion together to clear neighborhoods and conduct census operations in west Mosul, denying insurgents and criminals from using that part of the city as a bed-down area and meeting location.
U.S. and Iraqi security forces traversed the narrow alleyways and streets together, clearing more than 14 neighborhoods and initiating more than 88 humanitarian assistance projects.
"It was a collaborated effort with the (federal) police, Iraqi army and U.S.," said Maj. Gen. Mohammed. "We will continue to fight to the end and bring Iraq back to what it used to be like."
The Warhorse battalion is proud to see the federal police continue the same operational tempo in west Mosul without U.S. combat support, said Frizzelle. Only one vehicle-borne improvised explosive device has detonated in west Mosul since June 30, according to Frizzelle.
Since June 30, the Warhorse battalion has expanded operations out to the southwest region of Ninewah province, targeting insurgent support zones and denying them freedom of movement into Mosul.
The 3rd Battalion has had to adjust to the conditions set by the new mission. The open terrain of the Jazeera desert and rural villages were a major change from the urban environment they previously operated in. They expanded from a 120-square-kilometer area of operation to 5,600 square kilometers, 46 times the size of their original boundary.
"We also went from ISF-centric partnerships to tribal-centric partnerships," said Frizzelle.
As the Warhorse battalion moved outside the cities, they developed close relationships with tribal shaykhs and town mayors, who are influential leaders within their communities, in order to gain acceptance from the populace and effectively provide security.
These leaders are currently working with 3rd Battalion and the Ninewah Provincial Reconstruction Team in developing projects such as a water truck distribution plan to combat the drought that has hit Iraq hard this year and provide water in the rural areas in critical need.
"We've outlined a 'sphere of influence' for each sheik and mayor in the [area of operation]," said Frizzelle. "Within their sphere, they can monitor the water trucks and provide us any feedback about the program."
Although the Warhorse battalion was initially concerned about the move outside of Mosul, the Soldiers understand this is another step towards Iraqi sovereignty.
"We were the pulse of the main effort for the division," said Frizelle. "But now the Iraqi security forces are in charge inside Mosul and doing a great job."
Though the missions have shifted for the Warhorse battalion, the partnerships have not. 3rd Battalion was glad to have the chance to honor their Iraqi counterparts both in and out of the city of Mosul.
"We just want to offer thanks to the ISF and local leaders for their continued support and dedication to a safer and more secure Iraq," said Brooks.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2009 10:20 |
| Story ID: | 39479 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 121 |
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