Shaping the battle space in Diyala

Bill Roggio:

The Battle of Diyala has been taking shape since about 700 soldiers and 100 of their Stryker combat vehicles from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division moved into Baqubah from Baghdad in mid March, and fought pitched battles against al Qaeda in the city. Iraqi and Coalition forces have conducted several operations, including an air assault, against al Qaeda targets and their puppet Islamic State of Iraq in an attempt to dislodge the terror group from Diyala. Over 2,000 plus al Qaeda are thought to have fled to the province since the inception of the Baghdad Security Plan in mid February, and the security situation has markedly decreased since then. Al Qaeda has been conducting a terror campaign to remove leader who oppose them, intimidate the local population and keep the tribes from supporting the government.

U.S. and Iraqi forces have now refocused on Diyala as the Baghdad Security Plan takes shape. We've estimated that at least an additional U.S. combat brigade may be moved into Diyala to tackle al Qaeda's safe havens. The Iraqi government recently announced it was moving an additional brigade into Diyala. Until enforce forces are available and in place, the U.S. and Iraqi security forces are 'shaping' the battlefield by conducting clearing operations and targeted raids to keep al Qaeda off balance. This is much like the 'Anbar Campaign, where U.S. Marines conducted search and destroy operations, raids and air strikes during the spring and summer of 2005 prior to conducting Operation Rivergate in the Haditha region and Operation Steel Curtain in the Qaim region on the Syrian border. U.S. and Iraqi forces are also establishing new patrol bases, such as one established in Qubbah on March 24.

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There is much more. This is where the final battles for Iraq will be fought after the enemy finishes his retreat from Baghdad. This is where he is running to and this is where we should be prepared to destroy him.