Operation Iron Hammer continues 

Approximately 500 Iraqi Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 7th Division and 1,500 Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit with 500 soldiers from 2nd Battalion-114th Field Artillery Regiment continue Operation Matraqa Hadidia (Iron Hammer) today in the Hai Al Becker region near Hit. As the Iraqi Army soldiers and U.S. Forces moved through the area, they encountered several prepared fighting positions that appeared to be recently built in the days leading up to the operation.A platoon of the Iraqi Desert Protectors recruited from Hit is operating alongside the Marines as a scout platoon gathering human intelligence. Another unit of Desert Protectors recently took part in Operation Steel Curtain in the Al Qa’im region. Because the Desert Protector forces are comprised of Iraqi Army soldiers from the area they operate in, they are have high degree of local knowledge which they share with the Iraqi Army and U.S. forces they support. Additionally, they have a vested interest in the security and stability of their city. The goal of the operation is to clear the region of insurgents and weapons and prevent Al Qaeda in Iraq from using the city as a safe area. Insurgents in the area are known to make improvised bombs to stage attacks against civilians and Iraqi and Coalition Forces further east. There are no reports of Iraqi Army or U.S. Forces casualties.