Soldiers Clear Insurgent Safehouses

By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Task Force Marne Soldiers conducted a night air assault in al-Khanasa to deny insurgents sanctuary southeast of Baghdad Aug. 30.

U.S. Army AH-64 attack helicopters provided aerial support as Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, moved via CH-47 Chinook helicopters to the objective.

At the first objective the Soldiers found an AK-47 assault rifle and a pistol then moved north to investigate a possible weapons cache.

Soldiers then assaulted a suspected extremist safehouse where they found electronics, a bulletproof vest, enemy propaganda and medical supplies.

Company B Soldiers cleared multiple targeted houses during the course of the mission.

The 1-15 Inf. Regt. is assigned to 3rd (Heavy) Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Benning, Ga. The 3rd HBCT has been deployed since March.