3rd Infantry Division Operations - Fort Stewart - U.S. Army

76 3rd Infantry Division Operations
dariyah. The area was a ratline for the trafficking of accelerants
to Baghdad from Syria through Fallujah, to Jurf as-Sukhr, Abu
Muhalhal, Hanaswa, and al-Khudir. Physical evidence from
the search for the two missing 10th Mountain Division Soldiers
tied some members of the prominent tribes in the target area to
al-Qaeda.
On December 1st, the day Vanguard accepted responsibility
of their area, it conducted Marne Roundup. Roundup was
intended to set conditions for improved security in the Khidr
and Jurf as-Sukhr region in order to secure the population and
prevent the area's use as a staging area for attacks into Baghdad.
Phase one of the operation was the use of intelligence assets
to set the conditions for the logistics necessary for Phase two.
Vanguard would secure the local population by constructing a
patrol base in vicinity of Khidr. A new patrol base there would
prevent the re-emergence of AQI in the area. Money would be
used as ammunition to encourage economic development. Sons
of Iraq Groups would be formed to further neutralize the threat
of AQI.
When Marne Roundup came to an end in January of 2008,
the Vanguard brigade had cleared more than 40 caches and
detained over 70 insurgents, two of whom were deemed high
value targets. Additionally, Vanguard established Patrol Base
Kelsey. Vanguard continued to develop its operations area.