Baghdad Eagle Battalion Takes Lead in Counterinsurgency Fight

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070502-03

MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — Iraqi Soldiers have been slowly taking the lead in the fight against terror throughout Iraq, and Tuesday another battalion officially took control. The 4th Battalion of the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division’s “Baghdad Eagles” assumed control of the battle space around Yusufiyah.

The battalion has worked side-by-side with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., since the 2nd BCT’s arrival at the beginning of September.The 4-31 Infantry “Polar Bears” have lived and worked with the Iraqi Soldiers for the past eight months, training them in every aspect of counterinsurgency fighting; including finding caches, conducting air- and river-borne assaults into hostile areas, and providing medical and financial assistance to local civilian populations.

The 4-31 Soldiers helped the Iraqi Soldiers train on weapons systems, communications equipment and jointly conducted countless operations, initially showing the way – then falling back to allow the Iraqis to lead, while remaining available to assist and answer questions.

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