Marine Air Units Play Continuing Part In War On Insurgency
Aviation is continuing to play a part in mopping up insurgents
in Fallujah, the commander of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in
Baghdad Wednesday.
Marine Maj. Gen. Keith J. Stalder commands about 9,000 Marine
and Army troops based at this airfield between Baghdad and the
Syrian border. He said aviation helped Marines and soldiers in the
city with the combat they faced in retaking Fallujah and aviation
continues to target the small pockets of insurgents that
remain.
"The wing is still flying missions -- mostly fixed-wing, but
some rotary-wing missions as well," Stalder said during an
interview with reporters traveling with Joint Chiefs Chairman Air
Force Gen. Richard B. Myers.
Airfield officials said the number of missions has dropped, but
Marine, Air Force and Navy aviators stand ready when called on.
The general said small groups of insurgents -- no more than five
to 10 in a group – are still active in Fallujah. "They don't
own whole city blocks," he said. "They will occupy a building here
and a building there."
As coalition forces sweep through an area, the insurgents flee.
Later they will attempt to reoccupy a building, and the coalition
forces engage them, officials here said.
Battling the insurgency from the air requires fire support when
needed. Stalder said the need for aviation support has been
relatively consistent since his arrival in Iraq in May. "I think it
will remain so through the end of the election," he said. The
Iraqis will elect a national assembly Jan. 30 to write their new
constitution.
Stalder said reports of damage to Fallujah were unfair. He said
the coalition exclusively used precision weapons against the
insurgents. He said all involved in planning and executing the
operations worried about collateral damage and went to great
lengths to avoid it.
All missions in support of operations against Fallujah went
through the Combined Forces Air Component Command. It "could be a
Marine providing the support, could be Air Force, could be Navy off
a carrier. They are all one and the same," Stalder said.
He said that weather was the most significant challenge during
the operation. The ceiling for aircraft was low, and that forced
fixed-wing aircraft to fly lower than normal or the use of
helicopters to provide aviation support. The insurgents fired
surface-to-air missiles at the aircraft, as well as anti-aircraft
artillery, small arms, and -- against the helicopters --
rocket-propelled grenades. He said no aircraft were lost and
mechanics at the base were able to repair the damaged craft.