By Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAQUBAH — Coalition forces launched an operation April 2 to clear and secure the market area in Baqubah, Iraq, in order to reestablish the city’s economic center.
Soldiers of 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., maintained a continuous 24-hour presence in the area, called Old Baqubah, during the first four days of the operation while they searched for terrorists and weapon caches.
They plan to remain in the neighborhood to assist Iraqi security forces as they establish and man permanent checkpoints to provide security for vendors and shoppers at the marketplace.
“It is important we open up the market place because in order to win the fight against insurgents, we have to establish a good economy,” said 1st Lt. Thomas Gaines, 1st Platoon leader, Company A, 5-20th Inf. Regt.
Iraqi police and Iraqi army soldiers plan on controlling the checkpoints and searching vehicles coming in and out of the neighborhood, while the Stryker Soldiers continue to operate in the area.
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