FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY -- Since their arrival into the critical Baghdad District of Rusafa, Iraqi Army Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, have played a critical role in the safety and security of the Iraqi people.
Recently, Soldiers from 3rd Bn., 4th Bde., 1st IA Div., acted on a citizen tip to prevent possible attacks against Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition forces and local Rusafa residents through seizing a weapons cache in Muhalla 133, said Capt. Timothy Mitroka, officer-in-charge, Military Transition Team, 3rd Bn., 4th Bde., 1st IA Div.
Unit Soldiers quickly responded to a tip from a concerned citizen about the possible location of illegal weapons, explained Mtiroka. They met with the individual, who accompanied them to the area where the weapons were thought to be hidden. The suspected location was an empty lot filled with rubble and trash. Soldiers found the cache in bags placed underneath a large pile of garbage, he said. They secured the site and collected the weapons.
“My Soldiers did a great job responding to the tip given to them by the local resident,” said Iraqi Lt. Col. Karsol, commander of 3rd Bn., 4th Bde, 1st IA Div. “This shows that the people of Rusafa can trust us to secure and protect their city.”
In a previous incident, a Rusafa resident reported a cache of RPG rounds hidden in a large white bag placed under an overpass in Muhalla 137, said Mitroka. A patrol rapidly deployed to verify the report. Once IA soldiers arrived, they quickly spotted the white bag, secured the area, and proceeded to investigate the bag’s contents. The Soldiers safely recovered four RPG rounds and two boosters, which were transferred to explosive ordnance detachment experts for proper disposal, explained Mitroka.
“Since the (3rd) Battalion’s arrival in the Rusafa District of Baghdad, they have become efficient in servicing and keeping the neighborhoods safe,” said Mitroka. “They continue to conduct daily patrols, cordon-and-search missions and joint operations with national police and Coalition forces in an attempt to catch criminals trying to disrupt the democratic process.”
(4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division)