FORWARD OPERATING BASE MCHENRY — Amid the turmoil and political uncertainty that clouds the future of their provincial capital city, Operation Summit Pursuit - spearheaded by Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, approximately 30 miles southwest of Kirkuk - brought hope to the people in the Districts of Hawijah and Sharqat, united Iraqi Security Forces, Sunni-Arab tribal and local government leadership and the Sons of Iraq.
“This cooperative effort, which began July 27, partially destroyed the remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq along the Northern Tigris River Valley and brought a prolonged military presence to the people in those regions - not seen in over three years,” Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment said at the conclusion of the operation on Aug. 5, 2008.
Operation Summit Pursuit, a task force level operation under the larger Iron-Warrior Pursuit Operations, utilized conventional lethal methods coupled with its non-lethal civil affairs tactics to concentrate on villages where ISF and Coalition forces had conducted previous raids on known AQI targets and to move further into territory susceptible to AQI influence, according to the task force commander.
This operation focused on the district’s northern most regions concentrating on the villages of Hegnah, Sabah and Taq Taq; once safe havens for notable AQI operatives such as al Zarqawi, according to Sheik Razzaq of Hegnah.
“Since December we have had many changes here,” Razzaq said, referring to the inception of Task Force Summit’s reconciliation efforts and the establishment of the Sons of Iraq program.
“This is the first time that we have had Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces in Hegnah. Because of their commitment to our people, we are able to live in peace and begin rebuilding our lives without fear,” he said.
The sheik whose influence covers Hegnah, Safinah, and Sadarah also thanked the CF for their assistance in bringing attention to much needed projects for villages in the area.
Additionally, Task Force Summit is also breaking new ground by attempting to establish government representation for the city of Taq Taq in the Sharqat District.
“We need to get some form of representative government established in Taq Taq, or we will continue to see that area of Salah ad-Din susceptible to AQI exploitation and usage as a safe haven,” Vanek said.
A formal request to form a sub-district in this region is currently underway and will be filtered through the Salah ad-Din PRT and officially presented to the provincial government for authorization to form a sub-district council.
“If we can at least get the process started for these people, that will be the single-most enduring accomplishment we will have fulfilled in this operation.” Vanek said.
During Operation Summit Pursuit, 19 future projects total for Iraqi Commander’s Emergency Response Program consideration were identified in the villages visited.
This Government of Iraq-sourced-and-funded program is facilitated by CF civil affairs teams. Some of the projects submitted include schools, medical clinics and water projects.