Operation Wolverine Alesia continues snagging caches, detainees

2nd BCT PAO, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI)

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — Iraqi army and coalition troops continue to find stockpiles of weapons and detain terror suspects near the main highway, Route Tampa, leading into Baghdad, where operations have been ongoing since Feb. 3.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Troop B, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment “Wolverines,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) working together as part of Operation Wolverine Alesia, have discovered two major caches – including one that contained 1,100 mortar rounds – and three minor ones. They have also detained six local nationals in the course of the operation.
Soldiers continue to conduct cordon-and-search operations as well as route clearance and deliberate search-and-attack village clearance.
“We have effectively denied the zone as an anti-Iraqi forces sanctuary in the Wolverine area of operations,” said Lt. Col. Mark Suich, a native of Redding, Penn., and commander of the 1-89 Cav.
As part of the counter-insurgency tactics that the 2nd BCT is conducting the cavalry squadron provided necessities to the local residents to assist the coalition with fighting the terrorists.
The operation also included a veterinary treatment clinic. Local nationals brought 187 animals to be treated by Multi-National Division – Baghdad veterinarian, Lt. Col. Neil Ahle. The animals, wrangled mostly by the local children, were given wormer and vaccinations for endemic area diseases.
Encouraging Iraqi veterinarians was Ahle’s main goal, he said.
“Maybe by doing this veterinary care, we’ll get a vet in the area to step up,” he said. “We put a lot of effort into many areas, but pushing the Iraqi people to step up and do it – well, this is one way to do that.”