Courtesy Photo | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SUMMERALL, Iraq (7 Jan 2006) - Soldiers from the 505th Engineer...... read more read more
By Spc. Matt Wrzesinski
3rd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
BAYJI, Iraq (January 11, 2006) -- Following the recent spike in IED attacks, the Iraqi leaders and the Rakkasans took action.
Within a week, a series of IED and vehicle borne IED attacks killed and injured more than twenty and damaged Iraqi infrastructure.
The effects of attacks transcend the victims. The day to day life of the local populace is impacted by heightened security and living with the constant possibility of attacks.
"People come from outside the town, shoot mortars and leave," said Maj. Shawn Daniel, Operations Officer, 1st Squadron 33rd Cavalry Regiment. "We want to let the citizens of Bayji live peaceful lives with as little coalition presence as possible."
The local government devised a plan to restrict the terrorist's freedom of movement and separate them from civilians.
At the request of Iraqi government officials, Rakkasans of 1st Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment and 1st Squadron 33rd Cavalry Regiment have constructed a wall around two small cities just outside Bayji, Saliyah and Saniyah, and the Iraqi Army has in placed more control points around Bayji.
"We want to restrict access routes to Bayji," said Capt. Michael Starz, Assistant Plans Officer, 1st Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment, "and keep the insurgents outside of the town."
The walls around the cities are 8 to 10 feet tall mounds of dirt. It is a simple plan with potential for huge results.
Similar projects have been successful in the past. Samarra and Mosul were once insurgent strongholds, but experienced a significant drop in violence after berms were built.
The Rakkasans and the people of the northern Salah Ad Din Province hope to have similar results.
1-33rd Cavalry was responsible for overseeing construction of the wall around Saniyah and Saliyah. Company C, 1-187 (attached to 1-33) pulled security on the building sites while Soldiers from the 505th Engineer Battalion constructed the wall.
Access to the cities will be controlled by check points strategically placed throughout the walls. Watch towers will be constructed to limit the dead space between checkpoints. Coalition forces are working with Iraqi Police to man the checkpoints. The goal is for Iraqi forces to be in total control of the checkpoints and ultimately their cities.
"The Iraqi Police have a lot of room to grow," said Daniel, "as they progress our presence will become less prominent."
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2006 14:34 |
| Story ID: | 5165 |
| Location: | BAYJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 619 |
| Downloads: | 139 |
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