Local Iraqi Citizens Beat Al-Qaeda in Adwaniyah

The US Department of Defense reports that local Iraqi civilians, fighting as part of the Concerned Citizens program, defeated an Al-Qaeda attack on the town of Adwaniyah, killing 15 of the enemy, and suffering four dead with some wounded.

The victory is notable partially because the citizens had just joined the program but showed firm resolve in the fight. Al-Qaeda used about 40 men in the attack, against two checkpoints outside of the town. The town used to be an Al-Qaeda stronghold and the terrorists were attempting to take it back.

The gun battle lasted about four hours, says Army Colonel Terry Ferrell, of the 3rd Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade Combat team. The Citizens at one checkpoint fought it out until their ammunition ran out, and retreated to another checkpoint. By that time, the Iraqi Army was already close by, as a result of communications set up a week earlier when the citizens of Adwaniyah decided to take part in the program. They had seen the success of the program in a neighboring community, Hawr Rajab, and joined. The Iraqi Army moved without consulting the US Army, evidence of their initiative. About one Iraqi battalion is in the area to assist townspeople.

The enemy used small arms fire and truck mounted weapons.

The battle began around 9:30 a. m. with a mortar attack on the checkpoint farthest south. Then all three checkpoints were attacked by small arms fire. Iraqi forces arrived then at the north checkpoint. When the south checkpoint ran out of ammunition, it retired north and blended with the other citizens and the Iraqi Army forces.

It was at this point that the US Air Force made air strikes, and the Army called in artillery.

After losing 15 men to the fire, the al-Qaeda forces retreated and are still being hunted in the area. However, it is becoming more and more difficult for them to find safe bases because local people are cooperating with the Iraqi Army and Coalition forces.

Colonel Ferrell explains that while there was some hesitation to cooperate at first, after the government sent representatives to the area consistently, and showed it wanted to reach out and help, the residents came aboard.

Local citizens also were able to predict when the attack was coming by monitoring phone calls in the area.

A certain amount of pragmatism is being used. Citizens look very much like the Al-Qaeda forces, so they took the simple step of wearing traffic vests to distinguish themselves from the enemy.

Concerned Citizens Build Stronghold in Adwaniyah, DOD