Arab Jabour
Sep 21 at 3:03am by David Tate
The battlespace for 1/30 Infantry is a place called, “Arab Jabour”. It’s about 15km long, 5km wide, about 99% Sunni Arab and lines the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad. The enemy for the US forces operating here is exclusively domestic Al Qaida in definition. In reality, the enemy is actually no more than a group of criminals that have grown up here and have so much blood on their hands that it would be impossible for them to renounce AQ at this point. The way I’ve put it together, the enemy is more like a group of spoiled thugs, used to having their way via the point of a gun, with no where to turn but to Al Qaida once Saddam’s regieme fell.
It’s also an area that has never had any real government. A place where Baathists would come to retire. Four of the five men, who in recent years have stepped up to help govern, have been murdered and the fifth has taken off, deciding to take his chances elsewhere. US Civil Affairs is now trying hard to form a local government, but the process is slow.
For the most part, 1/30 doesn’t receive face-to-face contact from the enemy, dealing almost exclusively with the morale draining realities of IED attacks. The countryside is littered with these pre-laid death traps as well as hundreds of weapons caches, many that have been found and destroyed with many more that haven’t
All of this has made Al Jabour ripe for the Concerned Citizens movement that has recently been sweeping across the country. A populace fed up with the sheer ruthlessness that these terrorists sow upon them. In this area alone, nearly 600 men have signed up to help protect themselves. Led by a former Iraqi logistics officer, General Mustafa, the Concerned Citizens are making a huge contribution that is saving not only Iraqi lives, but American lives as well.
These Concerned Citizens are doing more than just manning checkpoints that keep the roads clear of terrorists, they are in actual full contact fights with the criminal element that has made life for the common person here very deadly. Just two nights ago, PB Murray supported a Concerned Citizens group in contact with Al Qaida with accurate mortar fire that was directed by one of the Concerned Citizens using a cell phone. Cell phones have actually become the number one weapon against the terrorists as networks of informants and “bird dogs” keep the Americans fully informed of what’s going on in this sector.
All of the killers here are well-known by the people, who grew up around them, making this area of operations different than any of the others I’ve encountered. General Mustafa’s men have even been given their own chunk of battlespace to control, which has freed up the undermanned Americans to pursue AQ in other directions.
It still comes at a price for these Iraqis. On Thursday, two were killed and three wounded from a pressure plate IED as AQ steps up their attacks on the population in an attempt to intimidate the people back into submission. Regardless, the attacks seem only to embolden the Iraqis into further cooperation with the Americans as the two forces work side-by-side for the future of this region.
The Americans have suffered as well. In the four months of active operations, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID, which includes 1/30, has taken 12 KIA and 57 WIA, not to mention the incredible stress wrought on these troops who face an enemy they rarely see. Using the sneakiest of techniques to attack the soldiers, Al Qaida is forcing the Americans to always be in tune to the fact that every step they take outside the wire, could be their last.
13 Responses for "Arab Jabour"
young LT
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:34 am
1David, i m not sure if my last one posted but i appreciated you coming out with us. your story is very accurate and my soldiers will definately enjoy reading it. thanks Lt
KnightHawk
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:26 am
2Do you get the sense that the Concerned Citizens groups you’ve been around either directly or indirectly are in it for the longer term, or is it more just to push AQ out. I guess I’m asking the question are a good portion more civil service minded or mostly just self-interested for their own immediate security. I realize that’s probably an impossible question to answer given where their focus is currently.
David
September 24th, 2007 at 10:08 am
3Knighthawk – It seems to me that the Concerned Citizens are people fed up with AQ slaughtering their people and taking their possessions. While most I’ve talked to agree that they would like to see the US gone, they are finally realizing that the best way to do that is to help the US get rid of Al Qaida. I believe, at this point, that the CC movement is a move toward survival. They realize that the Americans are not interested in stealing their property, women, etc… unlike AQ. The death and destruction brought on these people by Al Qaida is really unbelievable. Al Qaida thugs will kill an entire family if you stand up to them, so the population’s best form of defense, is to work with the guys who have much bigger and better resources. This is how I understand it.
Ed
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
4David,
My son was one of the five soldiers killed August 11th by a sniper-attack/housebomb in Arab Jabour. I found your post very interesting and would like to chat with you offline if you feel like it.
Thanks and I hope to hear from you, my email is edkirkpatrick@verizon.net
Ed Kirkpatrick
Proud Father of Sgt. Scott Lange Kirkpatrick
KIA 8-11-2007 Arab Jabour, Iraq, #3717
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Missed terribly
dje dja
February 6th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
5It is the americans who brought destruction and hell to Irak and created the so called Qaida groups in response to their occupation. To calm the game(play), the president Bush knew how, He bribed the same so called criminels to win the battle of Arab jabour
As it is said in a proverb: Money make ways in the sea
Cyclones, 4/64 AR
March 8th, 2009 at 12:12 am
6This area was patroled in 2005 by C Co, 4-64 AR from 3 ID. They were attached to the 184th IN, a NG battalion from CA. The Cyclones lost 4 soldiers in Arab Jabour and many wounded. PB Murray is beside (north) what was OP Thorn. OP Thorn was attacked daily with direct and indirect fire from Nov 05 to Jan 06. The armor company held tough until they conducted TOA with the 101st Airborne. The 101st was tasked with too large an area and gave up OP Thorn. OP Thorn was not destroyed until a soldier was killed by a sniper who was using the fortified house at OP Thorn for cover. The 101st then dropped a 500 lb bomb on OP Thorn. Glad an entire battalion finally fixed Arab Jabour. Godspeed Cyclones for your pain and sacrifices!
Dwight Arceneaux
February 26th, 2010 at 6:41 am
7Hey thanks for this article, sir. I served as part of Task Force Black and was with LTC Adgie on his personal security detachment when not on those missions. To those who gave all, your sacrifices will never be forgotten, especially my brother Lui Tumanuvao and my brothers from White Platoon, B Co.
Spc Dwight Arceneaux “Doc Ace” HHC 1-30 IN, 2BCT, 3ID
Cyclone Red One
April 13th, 2010 at 6:33 am
8It was far too late that we recognized the danger associated with Arab Jabour. 3rd ACR took several casualties and lost numerous vehicles in the area before we were called down to patrol the area. We were restrained during our operations there. That restraint was lifted somewhat when 3 of my soldiers were killed. Later when I had the privilege of conversing one on one with GEN Petraeus he acknowledeged the enemy’s grasp on the area and used three BN’s to clear it. Unfortunately, as often happens, we appreciated the enemy’s capabilities only after a lethal strike.
The soldiers of C/4-64 AR will always be remembered and honored for their immense bravery in this incredibly hostile region.
SSG Springer(White 5)
July 21st, 2010 at 4:28 am
9This is a good article. But it doesn’t talk about Bco being the mane effort, the ones always in contact with the enemy. Bco 1/30 was in fire fights or cleaning up after the IED’s while the rest of the battalion was pulling security. Many times it was 2nd PLT that was called in to rescue or clear a section for another company. Bravo company 1/30th took 90% of all the casualties. We fought house to house for months with out any help. Just one company cleared and recorded 95% of Arab Jabour. It wasn’t until opperation Marne Tourch did it really become a battalion effort. Bco eventually pushed out and set up or own Patrol Base.
White 1
July 21st, 2010 at 6:19 pm
10David,
Thank you for a well written page. Unfortunately I was the PL on site when that house blew up. This isnt going to be a sob post but isnt a day that I dont wish I could go back and redo it all over again.
To my 3ID brothers in C/4/64, I feel for you and can finally relate to someone.
God bless the troops and 3ID
David Tate
August 10th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
11Thanks for the addition. I am just one set of eyes and ears with 1-2 days to absorb. Your afterthoughts help validate the article and continue laying out the history of that AO. Thanks for your thoughts.
David Tate
August 10th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
12I think of you guys often. Usually when I see a gold star, unfortunately. So sorry for your losses. On a side note: I have a very nice camping spot on a nice creek with a nice covered deck in the mountains of Virginia. You, or any combat vet for that matter, who wants to decompress in such an environment are welcome to use it whenever they wish. Please contact me. Bow hunting is also an option for the fall.
May you all find peace one day.
13F
September 12th, 2010 at 12:16 am
13I was there with A co. and will always remember what we went through….i see articles in the stars and stripes once in awhile about arab jabour and all that gain in the area was lost. AQI have moved back into the area and have killed many SOIs the battalion use to work with. Its sad to know that has happened to an area where 16 soldiers lost their lives.
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