THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Operation Raider Reaper Clears Iron Triangle

A machine gunner in 1st Platoon, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., patrols through the village of Hibhib, Diyala province, Iraq, Dec. 15, in support of Operation Black Reaper. The operation was a puzzle piece in the larger scale Operation Raider Reaper designed to clear the Iron Triangle. Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

A soldier of 1st Platoon, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., keeps security on two Iraqi males outside of a house in the village of Hibhib, Diyala province, Iraq, Dec. 15. One of the Iraqi males is a suspected weapons smuggler on the units High Value Target list. Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Spc. Randy Stevens, a cavalry scout in 1st Platoon, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., patrols through the palm groves of Hibhib, Diyala province, Iraq, Dec. 15, shortly after air assaulting into the area in support of Operation Black Reaper. Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Soldiers of 1st Platoon, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., clear a house pulling security for each other, moving tactically up a staircase during Operation Black Reaper in Hibhib, Diyala province, Iraq, Dec. 15. Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Soldiers of 1st Platoon, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., pull security overwatch from an Iraqi rooftop during clearing operation Black Reaper in the village of Hibhib, Diyala province, Iraq, Dec. 15. Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Dispatches from the Front:

HIBHIB, Iraq, Dec. 30, 2007 -- Operation Black Hawk Reaper was a part of several operations that were conducted simultaneously. It was designed to clear an area of three villages, Hibhib, Al Hudayd and Khalis, known as the “Iron Triangle.” The operation included the Concerned Local Citizens program, an Iraqi police emergency reaction force and three companies of Iraqi army working with 2-1 Cavalry, 1-38 Infantry and Special Forces elements. This joint effort was dubbed Raider Reaper. Objectives were to clear the Iron Triangle of AQI presence, weapons caches and improvised explosive devices and leave the Iraqi police and the Concerned Local Citizens program in control of the area.

Helmets fixed with night vision devices roving left and right are silhouetted against the glow of night through the circular windows of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The high pitched screams of engines are heard over the rhythmic beating of the rotors, vibrating and shaking the helicopter during flight.

A crew member flicks on the soft blue light, and soldier yells “One Minute!” The soldiers shift their weight conducting last minute checks of gear, night vision and weapons.

As the helicopter hits the ground the rear door lowers and a Gator tractor vehicle carrying ammunition, food and water tears out ahead, followed by 23 soldiers of 1st Platoon, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment and six Iraqi army soldiers. Static electricity glistens on the Chinook’s dual blades as they beat hot wind down onto the soldiers sprinting from the aircraft.

Within seconds the troops exit the bird and form a large circle, weapons oriented outward, providing 360-degree security. Riflemen take a knee scanning their sectors as machine gunners lay on their stomachs. The soldiers overwatch the village of Hibhib, Diyala province, Iraq, from the surrounding farmland as the Chinooks take off into the darkness. They are gone as quickly as they landed, dropping their cargo into position and leaving in under a minute. It is H-hour on Landing Zone Grimlock. Operation Black Hawk Reaper has begun.

Cobra Troop takes a 30-second tactical pause after exiting the birds before moving into the village. A squad moves up silently using hand-and-arm signals to communicate while staying in the shadows, using the natural concealment of night to stay undetected.

They find their target house. They have spent hours studying maps, preparing for this moment. They are looking for one man, an alleged al-Qaida weapons smuggler on the unit’s high value target list. The squad moves into position outside the front gate, while the rest of Red Platoon keep their weapons trained on the doors and windows of the house.

The squad, including six Iraqi army soldiers, kicks the gate open. The soldiers keep their muzzles pointed in each direction as they move to the left, right and straight into the main complex.

“Get on the ground! Hands up!” the soldiers order.

A family of five women, a man and a 15-year-old boy are pulled out of the house. The women are separated from the men and everyone is searched for weapons and explosives.

The rest of Red Platoon moves in providing additional security. The clearing squad moves out tactically, breaching into the surrounding houses in the small village.

Intelligence received by the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., led coalition forces to believe that an al-Qaida weapons smuggler was taking refuge in this particular house.

Spc. Randy Stevens, a cavalry scout in Red Plt., Troop C, 2-1 Cav., began tactical questioning the two males of the target house while a thorough search of the home and surrounding yard was conducted.

Upon questioning, the cavalry scout’s suspicions were confirmed. The older male’s name was on the 4th Stryker Brigade’s high value target list.

“We found seven forms of ID in the house,” Stevens said, “Including old Iraqi army I.D. cards, confirming the man’s identity – we know him to be a suspected weapons runner.”

The man is zip-cuffed and detained. With their objective cleared and secured, the Cobra Troop soldiers were ready to conduct the next phase of their mission. They set up rooftop overwatch security emplacements and provided blocking positions for sister units conducting air assaults in the area.

“The air assault went well,” said Cobra Troop commander Al Bangura. “No hiccups or delays getting off the bird. The junior leaders did their part and led their men well. Everyone is okay and we were successful in securing Hibhib for the rest of the units to complete their missions.”

Operation Black Hawk Reaper was a part of several operations that were conducted simultaneously. It was designed to clear an area of three villages, Hibhib, Al Hudayd and Khalis, known as the “Iron Triangle.” The operation included the Concerned Local Citizens program, an Iraqi police emergency reaction force and three companies of Iraqi army working with 2-1 Cav., 1-38 Inf. and Special Forces elements.

This joint effort was dubbed Raider Reaper. Objectives were to clear the Iron Triangle of AQI presence, weapons caches and improvised explosive devices and leave the Iraqi Police and Concerned Local Citizens in control of the area.

The mission was a success.

Three weapons caches were found containing mortars and mortar tubes of various sizes, suicide vests, anti-tank mines and bomb-making materials. Three possible car bombs were found and destroyed. Several IEDs were found and control-detonated safely.

After securing the Iron Triangle, soldiers began construction of six checkpoints, giving the Iraqi security forces a foothold in the villages to keep presence and control of the area.

“The citizens are tired of the local militias, al-Qaida and insurgents coming through their town attacking them, shooting at them and kidnapping them,” said Sgt. Jeremy Reynolds, a team leader in 2nd Plt., Troop A, 2-1 Cav. “They set up these checkpoints so they can provide their own security without having to depend on coalition forces and Iraqi security forces.”

soldiers of Troop A, 2-1 Cav. registered and processed 91 Iraqi volunteers in the area for the Concerned Local Citizens program.

The CLC program allows Iraqis, many with prior military or law enforcement experience, to stand up for their neighborhoods and protect their families and homes from insurgent activity.

“They want to rid their town of these terrorists,” Reynolds said. “It shows that they want to make their city safe and have a sense of independence.”

Arrow Troop also conducted humanitarian aid drops in the area, providing local citizens with 10,000 pounds of rice, 10,000 pounds of flour and 180 litters of cooking oil.

Between the two operations, more than 60 detainees were taken by coalition forces and Iraqi security forces, at least 22 of which were taken by the Iraqi army.

“The IA leaders did well today,” Bangura said. “These guys are very good, very competent and are respectful to the civilians. They weren’t just along for the ride today.”

No casualties were suffered during either operation.

“They performed well,” said Sgt. David Boker, a team leader in 1st Platoon, Cobra Troop, 2-1 Cav. “The mission wasn’t quite as active as some of the other missions 2-1 Cav. has conducted recently, but that puts us in a position to focus on proper security and other areas.”

According to Boker, this mission is one of eight air assaults that 2-1 Cav. has conducted in the last three months to rid the small villages and towns of weapons caches, limit AQI presence and end their operations from the Diyala River straight south into Baghdad.

With the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division’s new home in Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Diyala province can expect more of the same.

(Story by Spc. John Crosby, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. )