Operation Together Forward’ Expands Into Northeast Baghdad

American Forces Press Service ^

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2006 – Iraqi security forces, supported by Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers, expanded their combined security effort into the Adhamiyah neighborhood of northeast Baghdad today in support of “Operation Together Forward.” The combined operations are being led by the soldiers of 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division and 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, officials in Iraq said. They are supported by Iraqi National Police from 1st Brigade, 1st National Police Division and soldiers from 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

The operations are designed to reduce the level of murders, kidnappings, assassinations, terrorism and sectarian violence in northern Baghdad and to reinforce the Iraqi government’s control in the country’s capital city, officials said.

The combined forces will secure the district by conducting cordon-and-search operations of the entire area and all of its buildings.

“The Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi government are in the lead in planning and conducting these combined operations,” said Army Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, commanding general, Multinational Division Baghdad. “We continue to work alongside them in their endeavors to reduce sectarian violence, which has resulted in a 36 percent reduction of murders across the city of Baghdad since we began earlier this month.”

Since Aug. 7, Operation Together Forward has enhanced security for the people of the Doura, Ameriya, Ghazaliyah and Shula neighborhoods of Baghdad.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

[SandRat]

Working together to clean ot the RATS NEST

[mdittmar]

The combined forces will secure the district by conducting cordon-and-search operations of the entire area and all of its buildings.

They can run but they cannot hide.

[bnelson44]

Is there a map keeping track of this operation anywhere?

[SandRat]

Not that I'm aware of.

[Popocatapetl]

This is the same technique Giuliani used to clear out Times Square and environs. It's based on the idea of using a massive sweep to clean an area, and then keeping it clean takes just a fraction of the personnel.

The bad guys invariably take off, figuring on coming back later, but by then the new police know everybody who is supposed to be on their block, so instantly put the bag on them.

Eventually, some of them try to take their whole gang back to the 'hood in force, figuring on overwhelming the cops--which is why they are backed up by a flying squad that supports maybe a 10-20 block area.

[bnelson44]

Related story:

ISF, 172nd SBCT leaders discuss Operation Together Forward

http://www4.army.mil//soldiers/view_story.php?story_id_key=9460

[bnelson44]

I found a map here. There is also a map of the four worse areas of Baghdad, and this seems to be one of them.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/08/the_ongoing_battle_for_baghdad.php

[SandRat]

Neat!

[bnelson44]

ping for comment

[musicman]

bnelson44, GREAT LINK in your #8 post !!!

The one map farther down the page showing the 4 major "trouble areas" circled in color are really helpful also.......(except how come there wasn't an Allegra circle????.....she CAN be trouble if she wants, and a warning to those who might wander into her "area", especially before coffee, would be helpful !!!...)

[bnelson44]

Or after her visit to the bar. :-)

I have a friend who is stationed in Baghdad with the 4th ID and he just came back from R&R... he really was looking forward to having some beers during R&R ... that was until he woke up with his first migrane :)

[cookcounty]

"Is there a map keeping track of this operation anywhere?"

You can be sure there isn't one in the LameStreamMedia......but if it was the terrorists doing the sweeping, the map would be all over the front page in bleeding color.

[Allegra]

.......(except how come there wasn't an Allegra circle????.....she CAN be trouble if she wants, and a warning to those who might wander into her "area", especially before coffee, would be helpful !!!...)

They're going to name a street after me. ;-)

As for the beer, there are a few bottles with my name on them in Houston, TX right now, waiting for next Monday night. YEEEEEHAAAAAA!!

[patriciaruth]

Keeping up with the 172nd in Baghdad ping.

[patriciaruth]

By special request from the 172nd SBCT, Allegra's tour has been extended 4 months.

Her new duties will include handing out Hallowe'en candy in costume as Batwoman.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping and thanks to all contributors to this thread. Very interesting.

[toubibfrancais]

There is one that I found but it's a bit outdated (2 weeks or so) but you might be able to contact the author to see if there are updates. Actually, I was thinking of contacting him myself but haven't yet got around to it. Go to www.counterterrorismblog.org and scroll down about a dozen articles till you get to an article on "together forward" with a map.
Good luck.