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CA observes patrol during visit to Iraq
By Capt Michael Brooke
Edition 1173, August 23, 2007 |
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Skill on tap: Soldiers of the Battle Group Reserve who took part in Operation Silver Faucet.
Photo by LS Phillip Cullinan |
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CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy observed a night patrol conducted by Overwatch Battle Group (West) 3 soldiers and armoured vehicles during his recent visit to the MEAO.
Lt-Gen Leahy mounted an ASLAV for the Battle Group Reserve’s three-hour patrol in Dhi Qar province on July 20. The patrol travelled to the village of Manazil Al Hajjanah, 40km from the Australian base in Tallil and 10km from Suq Ash Shuyukh, where militants have recently skirmished with Iraqi Security Forces. Two explosions were seen on the outskirts of Suq Ash Shuyukh during the patrol.
“The patrol was an excellent opportunity to witness the terrific job that Australian soldiers are doing in southern Iraq,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.
The patrol was conducted to prevent terrorists from laying IEDs along the main supply routes in the area and from firing 122mm Katyusha rockets at coalition forces at Tallil.
CO OBG (W) 3 Lt-Col Jake Ellwood said IED and rocket attacks on coalition troops in the area had dropped significantly since late June when the Australians took over the responsibility of patrolling the majority of the area surrounding Tallil Air Base.
“Our high tempo patrols are succeeding in suppressing a small but determined number of militants in the area,” he said.
“We are suppressing the militants who had been staging IED attacks against coalition convoys using the main supply route from Kuwait to Baghdad, and firing rockets at Tallil Air Base.”
During his visit, CA chatted with OBG (W) 3 soldiers about a range of issues, including the technology being procured for the Hardened and Networked Army. |
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