Operation Arrowhead Ripper Update
‘Arrowhead Ripper’ continues to deny terrorists resources
BAQOUBA, Iraq – Iraqi army and Coalition Force Soldiers from Task Force Lightning continued offensive operations in and around the capital of Diyala province, Iraq, as Operation Arrowhead Ripper continued to deny resources to al-Qaida terrorists during its twentieth day in the area.
Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, and 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, discovered and disabled five vehicles being prepared as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and caches containing pipe bombs, sniper rifles and other explosives and IED-making materials.
During another joint operation in western Baqouba, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, and 2-5th IAD, disabled three IEDs and discovered a cache of small-arms. Also included in this discovery was an al-Qaida safe house containing a large amount of medical supplies and equipment. The medical supplies taken from this safe house were taken and distributed to the local civilian population.
“In western Baqouba Arrowhead Ripper has met our initial tactical objectives and then some,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commanding general for operations, Task Force Lightning and Multinational Division-North. “Not only have we cleared out the active al-Qaida operatives in the western part of the city, but more importantly started to return fundamental life and normalcy to the citizens in that part of the city – food, water, fuel – those things that are essential to the trust and confidence of the people in their government.”
IA and CF Soldiers continue to conduct successful engagements throughout the capital denying al-Qaida operatives resources and safe havens.
In the Buhriz neighborhood of Baqouba, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 14th Cavalry Regiment, and 2-5th IA Soldiers, engaged and killed five terrorists after they launched a mortar attack from nearby palm groves. Local citizens provided accurate information to the joint forces enabling the successful engagement.
In a separate engagement in old Baqouba, Soldiers from 1-12th Cav. detained 34 suspected terrorists after following tips from local citizens.“The true measure of success is in talking to the Iraqis who are starting to return to a sense of normalcy in western Baqouba,” said Bednarek. “The fact that you have people coming out of their houses, starting to walk to the markets, (talking) with each other, riding bicycles, playing soccer in the streets, allowing the return of fundamental goods and services.”
Since the beginning of Operation Arrowhead Ripper, at least 60 al-Qaida operatives have been killed, 215 have been detained, 55 weapons caches have been discovered, 124 improvised explosive devices have been destroyed and 24 booby-trapped structures have been destroyed.
