Intelligence Leads To Strike On Al-Qaeda

By Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Two 3rd Infantry Division brigades quickly shared information and maneuvered AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from another 3rd Inf. Div. brigade to intercept and kill five al-Qaeda members southeast of Baghdad Dec. 23.

Local citizens told Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div. that several key insurgents were crossing the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad Sunday afternoon.

As the insurgents crossed the Tigris River from west to east, they entered the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div. area of operations. After receiving confirmation that the key insurgents were crossing the river, leaders from 3rd HBCT directed an Apache air weapons team from 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div., to engage and kill the insurgents. After the engagement, forces from 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. conducted an air assault into the engagement area to develop intelligence for future operations.

"Today's engagement is an example of two surge brigades sharing information faster than the insurgents can react," said Maj. Dave Fivecoat, from Delaware, Ohio, operations officer for the 3rd HBCT. "Our efforts to destroy al-Qaeda forces continue to improve the security in the Mada'in Qada."

The 3rd HBCT is out of Fort Benning, Ga., and deployed to Iraq in March. The 2nd BCT is stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., and deployed to Iraq in May.