Increased security measures keep bad guys out, citizens safe in Euphrates River city, Marines say
HAQLANIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 30, 2006) - U.S. Marines here say they"ve seen a "nearly 90-percent decrease" of insurgent attacks against Coalition Forces, thanks to a newly constructed 8-foot high dirt berm around several Euphrates River cities in Iraq"s western Al Anbar Province.
Story and photos by Cpl. Luke Blom, Combat Correspondent, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
In just the past two weeks, Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment have noticed fewer enemy attacks - small-arms and indirect fire, improvised explosive devices - against their patrols.
The Hawaii-based battalion arrived here three months ago, and is responsible for providing security to the region, alongside their Iraqi counterparts. The Marines attribute the decrease in attacks to the 14 kilometers of dirt which now encompasses several cities here coupled with a recent surge of additional U.S. Marines from the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Elements of the 15th MEU arrived late November to participate in "Operation al-Majid" which has produced positive results in the Haditha "Triad" Region since the operation"s commencement Nov. 26, Marines say here.
"This berm will prevent the enemy from getting re-supplied with weapons and bringing in personnel from outside the region," said Capt. Perry D. Waters, commander of 2nd Battalion"s Golf Company. "It will ultimately increase security for the residents of Haqlaniyah and the rest of the Triad region."
Marine Corps and Army combat engineers, as well as Navy Sea Bees, spent weeks constructing the massive mound of dirt, which is intended to deny insurgents "access and mobility" to the city, according to Waters.
Both the northern and southern end caps of the berm are butted up against the Euphrates River, creating an enclosed "bubble" with the three cities at its heart - a necessary step to keep insurgents out of the cities, according to Waters, a 31-year-old from Fredericksburg, Texas.
The berm wraps around three cities - Haqlaniyah, Bani Dahir and Haditha. Across the Euphrates River lies Barwanah - a city of about 20,000 - which the U.S. military also "bermed-up" to keep insurgents out.
The Haditha "Triad" has been one of the most insurgent-active regions in western Anbar Province, where U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces face small-arms fire and improvised explosive attacks daily.
The berm"s construction is part of "Operation Al Majid," an on-going, synchronized Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces "clearing and holding" operation intended to disrupt and defeat insurgent activity throughout more than 30,000 square miles in western Al Anbar Province. The operation began late last month.
While controlling the flow of people in and out of the city has decreased enemy attacks on Coalition Forces, the berm, along with the addition of hundreds of additional U.S. troops to the region, is expected to provide much-needed security to the region.
The operation will allow the region"s citizens to "return to a sense of normalcy," according to Waters.
"This will probably be the single most important thing we do here during our time in the Triad," said Waters. "People talk about a tipping point, when the scale starts to tip in your favor. I think we"re right on that corner."
Before the dirt wall went up, vehicles could travel in and out of the city freely, utilizing unknown and unmarked roads - what the Marines here call "rat lines" - carved throughout the desert. Insurgents use these unmarked roads as a means to transport weapons and munitions, providing logistical support to their cause.
Now with the berm in place, all vehicular traffic is funneled in and out of the city at several Traffic Control Points, which are manned 24-hours per day.
So far, the berm here has not interfered with the locals" ability to travel in and out of the city freely, according to 2nd Lt. Andrew Frick, a platoon commander for 4th Combat Engineer Battalion platoon commander.
"If they are legitimate and they"re not doing anything they are not supposed to, they"re free to come and go as they please," said Frick, a 28-year-old from Columbus, Ohio.
Good news for keeping the region secure, bad news for insurgents looking to get in and out of the city, the Marines say.
"It"s free flow in and out of the city," said Frick. "There"s nothing stopping people from coming or going."
But some citizens have expressed frustration over the new security measures, as travel in and out of the city takes more time now.
Still, the U.S. military"s efforts here seem to be well received by the population.
"It is difficult to do regular things right now. When I need to go to work or anywhere outside Haqlaniyah, it takes much more time," said one Haqlaniyah citizen, who preferred not to be identified by name. "But I welcome the berm if it means a safer city."
During the first three days of the berming process, all foot and vehicular traffic was prohibited. But to ensure the well-being of citizens, local mosques broadcasted messages in Arabic, directing citizens to stock up on food, water and other provisions.
"We went to all the mosques and had them broadcast to the citizens that the restrictions would be taking place," explained 1st Lt. Kyle A. Corcoran, a 25-year-old native of San Francisco. "The citizens were told to go to the (stores) and get as much food and water as they could, enough for 72 hours."
While movement was restricted in the rest of the city, local schools remained open, according to Corcoran.
"The past few days have been difficult, but peaceful. It was cold and we couldn"t go anywhere, but if that is what has to be done for peace I am OK with it," said another Haqlaniyah citizen who wished to remain anonymous.
Along with the added security of the berm, the Marines of 2nd Battalion are implementing a new identification system to help separate insurgents from innocent citizens.
Before being admitted into the city, locals must have their fingerprints documented and eyes scanned by U.S. and Iraqi troops at the traffic control points. Run through a database of known and wanted insurgents, that information helps the Marines identify who is a legitimate citizen, and who is not.
The Marines are also conducting a house-to-house census to gather accurate information on the city"s residents, such as number of residents per home, ages, genders, occupations, and educational background.
"By using these two systems we"ll be able to know who lives here," said Waters. "This will deny access to anyone who doesn"t belong here."
Email Cpl. Blom at blomlj@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil