Published: August 31, 2006
Iraqi Army takes the lead in Kirkuk Province
By Spc. Michael Alberts
Maj General Anwar, commander, 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army uncases the brigade colors at a ceremony outside Kirkuk, Iraq
Photo: Spc. Mike Alberts |
KIRKUK, Iraq (August 31, 2006) - Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division transferred responsibility of security for the majority of the Kirkuk Province to two battalions of the Iraqi Army during a ceremony at an Iraqi military compound just outside of Kirkuk, Iraq today.
"With this ceremony, we complete the transfer of security responsibilities from our friends, the Coalition Forces, to our Brigade," said Major General Anwar, Commander of the 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division. Two battalions in the multi-ethnic (Arab, Kurdish, Turkomen) 2nd Brigade had previously assumed security responsibilities in other sectors of the Kirkuk Province. Today's ceremony with the final two battalions assuming responsibility demonstrates the readiness of Iraqi Army forces in the province.
"Thank you my dear friend Colonel Gray and his deputy Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin who helped us make history," said Anwar.
"The 1st Brigade Task Force under [your] command brought our brigade to a high degree of training which allowed us to execute duties at the brigade level," he said. "We worked as a team with the same goals to achieve security and neutralize terrorism."
Recently, coalition forces and soldiers from the 2nd Iraqi Brigade's 1st Battalion and 18th Strategic Infrastructure Battalion participated in Operations Brave Sword and Gaugamela. Their joint effort resulted in the capture of more than 150 terrorists.
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) commander Col. David R. Gray and Major General Anwar, 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Commander present arms at a ceremony at an Iraqi Army compound outside of Kirkuk, Iraq.
Photo: Spc. Mike Alberts |
"These fighting men have taken the battle to the enemy, and the enemy is shaken," said Colonel David R. Gray, commander, 1st BCT, who has been deployed to Kirkuk since last October. In the past 12 months, the Iraqi Army conducted four brigade-level operations in and around the city of Kirkuk in addition to countless smaller operations and daily patrols.
"Today's ceremony is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of each and every one of our Iraqi brothers in arms," said Gray. "It is a sign to the world that Iraq is a sovereign country, a country whose people have shed the shackles of tyranny and have embraced freedom and democracy, and a country with soldiers ready, willing and able to protect their fellow citizens," he said.
Today's event marks the third time this year that Coalition Forces have transferred responsibility to Iraqi Security Forces in the 1st BCT's area of operations in and around the Kirkuk Province. The ceremony now places the majority of the province in Iraqi control. The city of Kirkuk and the village of Hawijah remain under the control of coalition forces.
1st Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Forward Operating Base Warrior
Kirkuk, Iraq
Video footage available at www.dvidshub.net
alan@newsblaze.com
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