From MNF-I, IED ring broken by Operation Bastogne.
... “Operation Bastogne was designed to capture members of an improvised explosive device cell operating along Highway 1 and other roads in the north Babil province,” said Capt. Stew Lindsay, a native of Freeport Penn., and commander of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
“This particular area was plagued by improvised explosive devices,” said Capt. James Browning, a native of Waynesboro, N.C. and commander of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment. “There were four or five IEDs within a kilometer of our objective. We have to operate in this area day in and day out so we definitely wanted to clean out the area.”
...
Once the task force reached their targets, they began a simultaneous raid on several houses in the area.
“We captured 10 personnel at the objectives,” said Lindsay. ...
In addition to capturing the IED cell members, the operation captured hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm sniper ammunition, IED making materials and an instruction manual on how to construct IEDs.
Following the operation, the effects on Chaka III were instantly noticeable.
“The immediate impact on the area was quite apparent. In the last 24 hours, where we generally have four to five IEDs and several indicators of insurgent activity, there have been absolutely none,” said Browning. “There might be attempts at reprisal attacks, but I think we have crippled the IED cells in our area.”
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