Thanks for the very helpful analysis. So, two battalions could be from 600 to 2000 soldiers. That helps me understand this article.
The key sentance is: “A battalion is capable of independent operations of limited duration and scope”
A general can send a battalion off on a mission like this to protect a number of Shieks in an area as large as al-Anbar.
... a battalion of about 700 soldiers and nearly 100 Stryker vehicles
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grabbed that in a search,,,should be close to that...X 2...
Formations have also tended to get a bit larger over the last 60 years or so. A World War II army division might be 10,000 or 11,000 men, now a division is likely to be closer to 13,000.