Saturday, November 5

 

OPERATION STEEL CURTAIN UPDATE

November 5, 2005
CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq – Approximately 1,000 Iraqi Army Soldiers and 2,500 Marines, Sailors and Soldiers continue Operation Steel Curtain in Husaybah, near the Iraq-Syria border.

The force is moving through the city to restore security along the border and destroy the al Qaeda in Iraq's terrorist network operating throughout the region. Husaybah is one of the main centers for transiting foreign fighters, equipment and money into Iraq.

The Iraqi and U.S. forces have encountered sporadic resistance – mostly small arms fire and improvised explosive devices - from al Qaeda in Iraq-led terrorists throughout the city. Members of the Iraqi scout platoons, specially recruited soldiers from the al Qaim region, are embedded with U.S. and Iraqi infantry companies and are helping to identify terrorist strong points and areas known to contain these homemade bombs.

A combination of six bombs and mines has been discovered so far. Additionally, a suspected suicide car bomb was destroyed this morning by a Coalition air strike.

A total of nine Coalition air strikes have been conducted on enemy strong points throughout the day. Only buildings occupied by terrorists firing on Marines and Iraqi Soldiers have been targeted. As with all coalition operations, strict measures are taken to prevent civilian casualties and unnecessary collateral damage to property. The number of terrorists killed in the strikes is unconfirmed at this time.

Iraqi Soldiers established a temporary lodging area in a vacant housing district in Husaybah to be used by residents who have been temporarily displaced by the operation. Iraqi and Coalition forces have accepted approximately 400 residents and are providing them with billeting, food and security.

There are no reports of Iraqi Soldier, civilian or U.S. military fatalities.

The offensive is part of Operation Sayaid (Hunter), designed to deny al Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate in the Euphrates River Valley and to establish a permanent security presence along the Syrian border. By eliminating terrorist influence in and around Husaybah, Coalition and Iraqi security forces are providing a safe and secure environment for the Iraqi people in that region to vote in the Dec. 15 national elections. Weblog LINK

Comments:
I wonder why I don't hear THAT on my TV news!
 
Because it would cause you to think that we are making progress and the MSM can't have that. They want us to think we are losing and need to pull out. Like in Vietnam.
 
Received an e-mail from my son on Saturday letting us know he just left Bagdad and is in the Al Qaim area....is it safe (Or should I say unsafe) to say he is supporting "Operation Steel Curtain" ?
 
Your son is fairly safe. The US soldier population is about 140,000 at any given time. In the past 2 years, 8 months, 2025 have died from all causes. That works out to 758 per year. This means that he has an overall risk of 1 in 185 of not coming home.

For comparison, the US 2002 deathrate from all causes was 842 per 100,000. A 1 in 118 chance of dying at home.

The lower deathrate of soldiers in Iraq when compared to the US is due to the soldiers being much younger and more physically fit.
 
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