thedrifter
02-12-07, 06:47 AM
Cordon-and-search of Iraqi town goes smoothly
By Steve Mraz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, February 12, 2007
ZARIYAH, Iraq - The operation began at daybreak Friday in this dusty, remote town north of Haditha in Anbar province.
Iraqi policemen accompanied by Marines drove through the streets and used loudspeakers to tell the men to gather at the local school.
The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment - led by Lt. Col. Jim Donnellan - were there in force, anticipating resistance by insurgents. A few weeks earlier on their way to Zariyah, two Iraqi policemen were gunned down and killed by an insurgent. Another insurgent being tracked by Marines blew himself up. No Marines were seriously injured.
But Friday, things were quiet in Zariyah, a place where insurgents have operated from, according to Iraqi police intelligence.
A cordon-and-search of the town began at dawn. Marines searched the mostly shabby stone houses one by one for bomb-making material and weapons beyond the one AK-47 allowed by each household.
Bomb-sniffing dogs such as one named Cross, accompanied by her handler, Sgt. Ray Lemmon, trotted through houses, yards and streets seeking explosives that could be used for roadside bombs.
The town's men gathered in the school so personal information could be obtained on Zariyah's military-age men, said Maj. Keven Matthews, executive officer for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
Fostering relations with local leaders, Donnellan sipped chai tea with the town's sheik and talked for two hours through an interpreter about the presence of insurgents, potential projects for the town and other issues.
The process of querying the town's men continued throughout the day while Marines stood watch around Zariyah in case something happened.
By nightfall, the Marines and Iraqi police had questioned and processed the town's several dozen males and at least three suspected insurgents were detained. All the Marines made it back safely to their camp at Haditha Dam.
By Steve Mraz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, February 12, 2007
ZARIYAH, Iraq - The operation began at daybreak Friday in this dusty, remote town north of Haditha in Anbar province.
Iraqi policemen accompanied by Marines drove through the streets and used loudspeakers to tell the men to gather at the local school.
The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment - led by Lt. Col. Jim Donnellan - were there in force, anticipating resistance by insurgents. A few weeks earlier on their way to Zariyah, two Iraqi policemen were gunned down and killed by an insurgent. Another insurgent being tracked by Marines blew himself up. No Marines were seriously injured.
But Friday, things were quiet in Zariyah, a place where insurgents have operated from, according to Iraqi police intelligence.
A cordon-and-search of the town began at dawn. Marines searched the mostly shabby stone houses one by one for bomb-making material and weapons beyond the one AK-47 allowed by each household.
Bomb-sniffing dogs such as one named Cross, accompanied by her handler, Sgt. Ray Lemmon, trotted through houses, yards and streets seeking explosives that could be used for roadside bombs.
The town's men gathered in the school so personal information could be obtained on Zariyah's military-age men, said Maj. Keven Matthews, executive officer for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
Fostering relations with local leaders, Donnellan sipped chai tea with the town's sheik and talked for two hours through an interpreter about the presence of insurgents, potential projects for the town and other issues.
The process of querying the town's men continued throughout the day while Marines stood watch around Zariyah in case something happened.
By nightfall, the Marines and Iraqi police had questioned and processed the town's several dozen males and at least three suspected insurgents were detained. All the Marines made it back safely to their camp at Haditha Dam.