BAGHDAD, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A military commander in Iraq says coalition forces have taken control of a former insurgent stronghold south of Baghdad.
Army Col. Terry R. Ferrell says for the past four months, coalition forces have battled to take control of the predominately Sunni areas around Arab Jabour and Hawr Rajab. The colonel said the area has for the past two years served as a haven for suspected al-Qaida operations using the nearby Tigris River valley to funnel bombs, weapons and ammunition into Baghdad, according to the American Forces Press Service.
“We are building from ground zero," Ferrell said, in a statement. "As we occupied the battle space, it truly was (an al-Qaida) sanctuary. There was no army; there was no police; there was no governance,” Ferrell said. “It’s been a challenging operation, to say the least. But the soldiers … continue to take the fight every day, and it's phenomenal what you see these kids doing.”
The brigade combat team was the last of the surge forces to deploy to Baghdad. Officials say since June, Ferrell's unit has cleared more than 1,000 buildings, destroyed 81 weapons caches and detained 443 suspects among other security achievements.
In early September coalition forces launched "Operation Marne Torch II," combining airpower, ground forces and local Iraqis in raids on al-Qaida strongholds. Officials say more than 600 citizens aided coalition forces since the operation began. Coalition forces have now set up a patrol base in Arab Jabour and are increasing their presence.
“Security forces have to come into our area and replace us,” Ferrell said. “If our presence is not here, then al-Qaida will come back.”
