thedrifter
07-14-05, 07:33 AM
Echo Company stabs westward in Operation Scimitar
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by Lance Cpl. Evan M. Eagan
ZAIDON VILLAGE, Iraq (July 14, 2005) -- In support of Regimental Combat Team 8, Iraqi Interdiction Forces Platoon, Echo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, kicked off Operation Scimitar in Iraq’s Al Anbar province Thursday.
The IIF Platoon, comprised of Marines and Sailors from 3rd Recon and Iraqi soldiers from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, focused on an area approximately 20 miles southeast of Fallujah called Zaidon Village.
The platoon made its presence known in the area, where insurgent activity has thrived for the past year, by conducting knock-and-talks and psychological operations through the first phase of the mission.
“This area is important because a lot of the attacks aimed at Camp Fallujah are formulated here,” said Gunnery Sgt. Oscar Gutierrez, vehicle three commander, IIF Platoon. “This is kind of like a stopping station where the insurgents do their recruiting. We’ve found a lot of weapons caches and IED [improvised explosive device] making materials here in the past. This area has been a focus for a while.”
Serving as the only platoon in Echo Company with a mix of Iraqi and Marine Forces, IIF Platoon is better able to communicate with the local populace while providing Iraqi soldiers with valuable training.
After forming more than a month and a half ago, the partnership has resulted in four dead insurgents, the destruction of one suicide vehicle-born improvised explosive devices and the discovery of various weapons caches in 3rd Recon’s area of operation, according to Iraqi Staff Sgt. Maher Mahmmod Saker, a soldier with 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade.
Echo Company, along with the other units involved in Operation Scimitar, will continue the mission until the end of the operation.
Ellie
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by Lance Cpl. Evan M. Eagan
ZAIDON VILLAGE, Iraq (July 14, 2005) -- In support of Regimental Combat Team 8, Iraqi Interdiction Forces Platoon, Echo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, kicked off Operation Scimitar in Iraq’s Al Anbar province Thursday.
The IIF Platoon, comprised of Marines and Sailors from 3rd Recon and Iraqi soldiers from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, focused on an area approximately 20 miles southeast of Fallujah called Zaidon Village.
The platoon made its presence known in the area, where insurgent activity has thrived for the past year, by conducting knock-and-talks and psychological operations through the first phase of the mission.
“This area is important because a lot of the attacks aimed at Camp Fallujah are formulated here,” said Gunnery Sgt. Oscar Gutierrez, vehicle three commander, IIF Platoon. “This is kind of like a stopping station where the insurgents do their recruiting. We’ve found a lot of weapons caches and IED [improvised explosive device] making materials here in the past. This area has been a focus for a while.”
Serving as the only platoon in Echo Company with a mix of Iraqi and Marine Forces, IIF Platoon is better able to communicate with the local populace while providing Iraqi soldiers with valuable training.
After forming more than a month and a half ago, the partnership has resulted in four dead insurgents, the destruction of one suicide vehicle-born improvised explosive devices and the discovery of various weapons caches in 3rd Recon’s area of operation, according to Iraqi Staff Sgt. Maher Mahmmod Saker, a soldier with 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade.
Echo Company, along with the other units involved in Operation Scimitar, will continue the mission until the end of the operation.
Ellie