The city of Karabilah opened their first police station last month after a three-year hiatus of policemen.
“Without the work the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police are doing here, we would not be able to move forward with construction projects.” “The security in this region has changed for the better,” said Awani in Arabic during the July 3 meeting. The governor, Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Awani, echoed their sentiments. Tribal sheikhs expressed pride in the region’s new police forces during a visit by Al Anbar Provinces’ governor to Husaybah last week. “One guy blew himself up last week trying to plant an IED.” “We are capturing more of the bad guys with a higher level of expertise in IED-making and that leaves a lot of insurgents with minimal experience in making the bombs,” said Bernier. Now, the Marines say they are seeing less insurgent activity since they arrived four months ago, thanks to the combined efforts and increase of presence of Iraqi Security Forces. Today, the Marines conduct security foot patrols with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police on a daily basis. Just three months ago, Iraqi soldiers partnered with the Marines here were learning the basics of security maneuvers and weapons handling. The Marines say local Iraqi Security Forces have made significant progress in the past few months by providing security for their people and conducting several independent operations to hunt down insurgents. The Marines have also introduced the city to their new police force and have begun conducting security operations alongside policemen. Since arriving here four months ago, the Marines have seen a decrease in enemy activity after conducting daily security patrols in 110 degree-plus temperatures alongside Iraqi soldiers. “The bomb was a last ditch effort by insurgents to destroy the progress we’ve made in this area,” said Bernier.
The mayor and the Marines agree that the school’s neighborhood is relatively safe although there is still the threat if IED’s – the insurgents preferred method of attack, according to Bernier, a Fallbrook, Calif.
“I want to thank the Coalition Forces on behalf of all of the people of Karabilah for finishing the school very fast and for supporting the construction of a fine place,” said Mohammed Ahmed Selah, mayor of Karabilah, where the school is located. The team spent nearly two years finding a contractor to complete the project and locals had lost hope of seeing their school constructed since it was destroyed in 2003 during heavy fighting between Marines and insurgents, according to Mallicoat, 33, from Vancouver, Wash. White, the civil military operations center director for the Al Qa’im region. Local tribal leaders and sheikhs attended the school’s grand opening and expressed thanks to the Marines of 3rd Civil Affairs Group who spearheaded the reconstruction project and obtained the necessary manpower to complete the building.Ĭivil Affairs teams oversee funding for a variety of reconstruction projects in the region which bolster Iraqis’ quality of life while improving the economy, said Lt. The Marines discovered the bomb and immediately secured the building leaving Iraqi Security Forces to provide 24-hour security to prevent further attacks. Rick Bernier, commanding officer of C Company – the Marines responsible for providing security alongside Iraqis in this city. “The bomb had the potential of taking down both wings of the building and the school would have been unable to open by September,” said Capt. Mallicoat, team leader for the civil affairs team here. Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment unveiled a brand-new grade school in this city of about 30,000 on the Iraq-Syria border in western Al Anbar Province July 7.Ībout one week before its opening, insurgents planted an improvised explosive device inside the school which would have leveled a good portion of the building, destroying nearly three months of work by Marines and locals, said Gunnery Sgt.
KARABILAH, Iraq - Thanks to the work of Marines and Iraqi Security Forces, 800 elementary-aged girls will now have a school to attend this fall.
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