Vol. 1, No. 6 Published by Multi-National Force - Iraq September 21, 2005 Securing a city, securing a nation ... Top Stories Quality medical care returns to Fallujah, Page 2 First GMLRS fired in com- bat in Tall Afar battle, Page 4 Operation Flea Flicker sweeps Zafaraniya, Page 9 File photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dave Ahlschwede Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis celebrate holy day in Karbala under the protection of Iraqi Security Forces, uniting and defying al-Zarqawi threats. Iraqis, 3rd ACR set up Forward TOC in Tall Afar, Page 9 Tall Afar operation Iraqi police train at Mosul transitions to reconstruction Public Safety Academy, Page 10 operating in Tall Afar in support of Iraqi By Multi-National Corps Public Affairs Locals celebrate Baghdad Government efforts to bring safety and bridge opening, Page 13 TALL AFAR — Operation Restoring security to the citizens of the city. Rights wrapped up decisive combat opera- The Iraqi-led operations included more Economic hopes soar with tions in Tall Afar and transitioned to the than 11,200 Soldiers from the 3rd Iraqi rebuilding phase of the operation so its Army Division, Ministry of Interior forces new airfield tower, Page 14 citizens can continue with the democratic and the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Cavalry process in a safe and secure environment. Regiment. The operation resulted in the Iraqi battalion secures streets “Acting on my orders, Iraqi forces com- death of more than 150 terrorists, deten- near Al Suwayrah, Page 18 menced an operation to remove all tion of 427 terrorists, and discovery of 53 remaining terrorist elements from the city weapons caches. Additionally, security of Tall Afar. These forces are operating forces discovered an improvised explosive Iraqis with support from the Multi-National device-making factory, a cave used to Taking Force,” said Prime Minister of Iraq hide people and equipment, and concealed the Ibrahim Ushaiqer al-Jaafari. “They are observation and sniper positions. Lead: acting on behalf of all the different reli- The Iraqi Forces put an end to the acts gious and ethnic elements in Tall Afar and of terror being carried out against the citi- photos in response to their appeals for help.” zens of Tall Afar, said Maj. Gen. from The Iraqi-led operation began Sept. 10 Khorsheed Saleem Al-Doski, commander, around the country Page 25 at 1:45 a.m. to clear the Sarai neighbor- hood of terrorists and foreign fighters See TALL AFAR, Page 3 Page 2 This Week in Iraq September 21, 2005 Coming together By Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. Multi-National Force - Iraq Commanding General The recent battle in Tal Afar gives us a Courtesy photo chance to see how a lot of little steps A couple of U.S. Marines take a look at a newly renovat- come together to show success. ed hospital in Fallujah. Look at what is transpiring around the country: a water project here, insurgent battles there and people registering to Quality medical care vote in historic numbers. Iraqi Security Forces topping 192,000 returns to Fallujah people. What does it all mean? First, Gen. George W. there is the battle of Tal Afar. Let’s look Casey Jr. City Council determined that at what happened: By Multi-National Corps – medical services were a priori- • An Iraqi-lead, Coalition-supported operation of approxi- Iraq Public Affairs ty for the city residents as they mately 11,000 denied a major safe haven to the insurgents, returned to their city. Coalition killing or capturing approximately 500. FALLUHJAH — Fallujah Forces, along with their • Iraqi government officials answered the call of their peo- has made a turn for the better. Fallujah partners, focused on ple sending in security forces to expel the insurgents. Once the heart of the insurgency, restoring the city’s medical • Humanitarian assistance was provided and reconstruction Fallujah was an Iraqi city bat- facilities. is in progress. tered and broken from years of Three clinics were repaired Second, Tal Afar is no isolated event, but the culmination of maltreatment by Saddam with Commander’s Emergency years of long, hard work, and the tangible start of a campaign Hussein’s ruling Ba’ath Party. Response Program (CERP) to deny insurgents safe havens all across Iraq. By the time Coalition Forces funds and are currently opera- Around the country approximately 98 percent (or more than secured the city in November tional, caring for between 300 15 million eligible voters) have registered to vote. Each week 2004, most of the residents had to 500 patients daily. An out- key members of the insurgency are captured or killed because moved away. Living conditions patient clinic at Fallujah of Iraqi informants. had become unbearable. The General Hospital was also built The Iraqi Security Forces stand at 192,000—and is growing city was in turmoil. with CERP funds and is fully every day! Just look through this issue of “This Week In Iraq” The initial assessment in operational. to see the various reconstruction efforts, Forward Operating December 2004 indicated that There are six other clinics in Base transfers and ISF academy training graduations taking one hospital and three clinics various stages of repair or con- place. Why? Iraqis across the country feel increasingly safe were operational. During struction. Three of these are to express their desire for democracy. Operation Fajr, insurgents under construction in the north Separately, these actions are little steps in the right direc- occupied Fallujah General of the city, one in the center, tion. Together they are a giant leap toward the end for the Hospital. Coalition Forces took and two in the south. Future insurgents and a new dawn for the Iraqis. From Mosul to the hospital by force, causing projects include a new $46 mil- Najaf; Fallujah to Tal Afar cities are rebuilding and looking extensive battle damage that lion hospital with a capacity of toward a bright future. limited its operational capabili- 200 beds. It is happening all across Iraq, not in isolation but as part of ties. The clinics also sustained Ground was recently broken a coordinated effort that is bearing fruit. extensive damage. Coalition Forces and the newly elected See FALLUJAH, Page 6 MNF-I Commanding General Editor.......................................................Staff Sgt. Brett B. McMillan Gen. George W. Casey Jr. [email protected] Assistant Editor.............................................Staff Sgt. Nick Minecci Combined Press Information Center [email protected] Director Command Information NCOIC...Master Sgt. Michele R. Hammonds Lt. Col. Steven A. Boylan [email protected] [email protected] This Week in Iraq is an authorized publication produced by Multi-National Force Command Information Chief - Iraq. Contents are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government or DoD. Maj. Patricia C. Anderson The editorial content is not the responsibility of the Public Affairs Office of the Multi-National Force - [email protected] Iraq. Questions and comments should be directed to the editor at [email protected]. Page 3 This Week in Iraq September 21, 2005 Right, citizens of Tall Afar line up at a checkpoint outside the city to be searched. The residents were allowed back to their homes September 14 following days of fighting between anti-Iraqi forces and Iraqi security forces and Multi-National Forces. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Blair Larson Right, Spc. Adan Serna, a Soldier assigned to 3rd Armored Cavalry Regt. stands guard at a screening site outside Tall Afar in Iraq’s Nineveh province. His presence was intended to provide aid and Courtesy photo comfort to civilians evacuating the Iraqi Security Forces during mounted city and separate anti-Iraqi forces patrol in Tall Afar. from the general population. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert M. Schalk Tall Afar Cross. The Ministries of Health, Trade and Transportation are also playing a from page 1 vital role in caring for the needs of the 3rd Division. They brought security people. and stability back to the people of this The Iraqi government approved $50 city, he added. million to the people of Tall Afar for Representatives of the Iraqi reconstruction and compensation. Transitional Government, the Ninevah The U.S. has already approved $5 mil- U.S. Army photo by Pfc. James Wilt Provincial, Tall Afar city governments lion to help build the infrastructure of Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne and local leaders called on the Iraqi the city, with more than $3 million in Division, storm a house in Tall Afar. and Coalition forces to take action to additional funds already requested. rid the city of terrorism and intimida- More than $730,000 is earmarked tion. Several Iraqi government offi- for transformers, wiring and other cials visited Tall Afar to view the oper- electrical infrastructure repairs, and ation firsthand. “I met with the com- two electrical lift trucks are standing mander of the 3rd Division in Tall Afar by to aid in repairs to the electrical and his officers and soldiers and found grid. them in high spirits,” said al-Jaafari. To date, 3,688 displaced civilians Efforts by numerous Iraqi govern- have been screened at the Displaced ment agencies along with non-govern- Civilian Rest Areas. Recently, the mental relief organizations initially Provincial Governor toured Tall Afar provided humanitarian assistance to with the 3rd IA Division and city lead- the displaced citizens of Tall Afar such ership and encouraged citizens to U.S. Army photo by Spc. Blair Larson as short-term potable water needs, return to the city. Iraqi Policemen secure a checkpoint tanker trucks, portable water tanks and “They want this city to fail. They on the outskirts of Tall Afar, a city water cans distributed throughout the want Iraq to fail,” Col.