LCPL SEAN P. MCGINT Y
MajGen John F. Kelly, CG, I MEF (Fwd), salutes during the transfer of authority ceremony Feb. 8, as I MEF
(Fwd) relieved II MEF (Fwd) in Iraq. II MEF returned to its headquarters at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
dence,” said Bellon. “[We want] them to
realize that they can do this without us,
and to have the people see the same thing.
“When [the people] see the [ISF pa-trols], it gives them confidence that the
security force can handle it.”
During the course of the day, the IPs,
utilizing intelligence gathered by the ISF,
cleared abandoned homes.
“There are many abandoned buildings
in the area that the insurgents are suspected of using. We want to deny any safe
haven for the insurgents,” said Maj Clark.
A number of Iraqis also were taken in
for questioning.
Clark commented that the IP need to
persistently question these Iraqis in order
to continue the cycle of information, which
will lead to future operations.
“The next step is that we continue with
ISF patrols, and when the Marines leave,
we can have full control of Iraqi law,
which is very strict,” said the police chief
of Haditha City.
LCpl Shawn Coolman
Combat Correspondent, 1stMarDiv
Iraq commanding general, who himself
changed command on Feb. 14, attended the
ceremony and spoke to Camp Pendleton,
Calif.-based I MEF forces, welcoming
them back. “There is perhaps no province
that better typifies the battle for a safe,
secure Iraq than Anbar,” LTG Odierno
told the audience. “Anbar is on the verge
of unleashing the incredible potential of
its great people.”
MajGen Kelly spoke of his previous
tours of duty in Iraq and said he wouldn’t
have believed the relative calm in Al
Anbar province if he had been told about
it one year ago. “We are doing now what
we always wanted to do, and that is to
work hand in hand with the Iraqi people.”
LCpl Sean P. McGinty
Combat Correspondent, MNF-W
eral organizations were able to function together under the leadership of the IP [Iraqi
police] and were coordinated through a
joint coordination center,” said Major Kevin
C. Clark, Executive Officer, 3d Battalion,
23d Marine Regiment.
Coalition forces have been working extensively with the ISF but stepped back
during the operation.
“This is the first all-ISF operation in
the Triad,” said Lieutenant Colonel David
G. Bellon, Commanding Officer, 3d Bn,
23d Marines. “They used their intelligence,
chose their objectives and planned the
[operation].”
The operation showed that the ISF could
provide the security that the Iraqi people
need.
“We’re trying to have the Iraqis gain
confidence and demonstrate that confi-
■ Saqlawiyah
Company E, 2/24 Conducts Census Ops
Getting to know your neighbors can
sometimes be a challenge, but leathernecks
of Company E, 2d Battalion, 24th Marine
Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1
patrolled the streets of Saqlawiyah, Iraq,
Feb. 12, introducing themselves as the new
“family” next door.
The battalion, a Reserve unit headquartered in Chicago, recently stepped on-deck in Iraq and is actively getting around
to meeting the people in the area whom
they will be helping during the next seven
months.
“We do censuses to get a feel for who
is living in the area and where they live,”
said Sergeant Josh K. Bloomquist, a
squad leader in “Echo” Co, which is home-
■ Haditha
ISF Takes Control and Polices
The Haditha Triad
Iraqi Security Forces took a big stride
forward Feb. 9 when, for the first time,
leaders planned and executed their own
security operation in the Haditha “Triad”
area, which consists of three cities—
Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana—about
50 miles east of the Iraq-Syria border.
For several weeks the ISF collected intelligence, then objectives were identified
during a joint (more than one Iraqi department) and combined (included allies)
session.
The Iraqi police, the army and the newly added Provisional Security Force, who
make up the ISF, worked together to conduct the operation.
“Today was a good example where sev-
Iraqi policemen stand
post at the entrance to
the Haditha City police
station. The policemen
are part of the ISF and
are taking on more
responsibilities while
U.S. Marines and other
coalition forces step
further back. (Photo by
LCpl Shawn Coolman)
