June 4, 2007

Operation Cuts Down Insurgent Activity

By Cpl. Rick Nelson
2nd Marine Division

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE — Marines and sailors assigned to Task Force Tarawa began Operation Southern Scimitar in the early morning of May 19, in order to sweep and clear their area of insurgent activity.

The operation was conducted due to reports of an enemy presence in a region east of Rutbah.

“Task Force Tarawa, 1st (Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion) and the Iraqi Highway Patrol were all involved in the joint operation,” said Gunnery Sgt. Frank M. Impagliazzo, motor transport operations chief, Task Force Tarawa. “The IHP’s patrolled north while LAR was sweeping east to west pushing enemy activity through several coalition phase lines.”

During the operation, Impagliazzo’s unit was used for Combat Service Support, supplying the units with fuel, food and other needed materials.

“We provided approximately 500 gallons of JP fuel to the sweeping units throughout the operation,” he added. “We helped in many ways. We had maintenance and armory parts and used all we had to help to keep the mobile force going, but the overall goal of the operation was to flush out any activity and to show a presence in the area, so the enemy would know ‘hey if you go out there and set something up, we’re going to find it’.”

The Iraqi Highway Patrol played a big part in the operation, setting up vehicle check-points in case insurgents tried to escape, said Staff Sgt. Matthew D. Seaburn, staff noncommissioned officer in charge, Police Training Team 22.

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