‘Wolfhounds’ combine efforts with ISF to thwart violent extremist networks
United States Division – North
TASK FORCE IRONHORSE
Sgt. David Strayer
109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
U.S. Division-North Public Affairs
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, provided support to Iraq’s Salah ad Din Riot Disposal Unit during Operation Able Magnum IV in areas southeast of Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Jan. 29.
“Woflhound” Soldiers of 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., accompanied the Iraqi Police unit in an advise and assist role, supporting the RDU during a cordon and search mission targeting warranted violent extremists in the vicinity of Al Zahoor and Khadasia neighborhoods in Tikrit.
“Our goal is to support the Salah ad Din RDU in intelligence fusion and targeting processes that will lead to warrant-based arrests during counter-terrorism operations,” said Capt. Matt Hills, commander, Company A. “The operation was an Iraqi-led initiative.”
Iraqi Police from Salah ad Din RDU worked extensively during the past several weeks to generate their own intelligence for the mission, refining the focus of operations based on suspected locations, generating a priority suspect list, and creating a plan to execute Able Magnum IV with U.S. forces present in a supporting capacity.
One of several municipal agencies dedicated to law enforcement in the Salah ad Din province, the RDU partnered with Wolfhound Soldiers of Company A in August of 2010.
Hills, a native of Lisle, Ill., said he has seen improvements in every aspect of how the RDU operates, including organization and communications between other law enforcement agencies.
It is essential these agencies share information and coordinate their efforts when conducting counter-terrorism operations and managing the threat from violent extremist networks, Hills added.
The Wolfhounds are working toward getting the RDU to the point where information is shared between agencies, and coordination is a joint effort, Hills said.
Due-process is a concept that the Wolfhounds have placed much emphasis on during their advise and assist partnership with the RDU, he added.
“Enforcing Rule of Law and Police Primacy is one of the biggest things we have tried to instill in the ISF,” said Hills. “We want them to uphold the legal standard, making arrests based on evidence collection and issued warrants.”
“Our agencies must be accountable for collecting evidence, sharing information, and making arrests based on issued warrants rather than just making arrests,” said Maj. Asem Jasem, commander of Salah ad Din RDU.
Able Magnum IV is proof that the RDU can execute every stage of the operation with minimal U.S. forces involvement, said Jasem.
For the first time in the RDU’s partnership with U.S. forces, the Iraqi Police took responsibility for every aspect of the operation, he said.
From gathering intelligence, to the planning and execution of the operation, the RDU led the mission, essentially briefing the Wolfhounds of Company A on their intentions and then executing.
“The operation was an overwhelming success,” said Hills. “From planning to (apprehending the suspect), the RDU had it under control …”
The Iraqi Police detained one of five warranted suspects identified for Operation Able Magnum IV.
Wolfhound Soldiers used biometric tools to archive the suspect’s fingerprints and iris scans, while the RDU confirmed the identity of the suspect and took him into custody.
“The end state is that the ISF in the province will be able to provide security … and manage the threats that come from violent extremist networks,” said Hills. “We are working to get them to where our advise and assist support is no longer needed; they are very close to that point.”
Wolfhound Soldiers of Company A continue to work with the RDU and other ISF to ensure a more stable Salah ad Din province as part of their advise and assist mission in support of Operation New Dawn.