US Air Force,
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq: Munitions dropped by Air Force pilots Oct. 15 destroyed a bridge northeast of Baghdad to disrupt weapons smugglers and insurgent movement.
The Multi-National Force – Iraq operation was coordinated by the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Operation Marne Anvil destroyed the land bridge that spanned the Diyala River connecting Diyala Province to Baghdad, which was believed to have been built by insurgents to smuggle munitions.
Maj. Dave Fivecoat, a 3rd HBCT operations officer from Delaware, Ohio, explained the purpose of the operation.
“Insurgents and weapons smugglers will now be limited to crossing points into Baghdad that are guarded by our Iraqi security force partners,” Major Fivecoat said.
The 3rd HBCT is positioned in the Mada' in Qada east of Baghdad along the Diyala and Tigris rivers. The brigade is focused on disrupting the flow of accelerants into Baghdad to decrease violence levels in the Iraqi capital.
The 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division is from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.
