The first brigade of Soldiers to deploy exclusively in support of Operation New Dawn has arrived in southern Iraq.

The lead elements of 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, from Fort Hood, Texas, recently arrived in Iraq and are preparing for their new mission. The regiment previously deployed three times during Operation Iraqi Freedom - serving successfully in tough areas including Fallujah, Tall Afar, Ramadi and Baghdad. This new deployment is the first of its kind under Operation New Dawn.

An Afghan and coalition security force captured an improvised explosive device cell leader operating in Qalat District Tuesday.

The 7th Commando Kandak, assisted by members of two Marine special operations teams, found and destroyed a large drug and weapons cache in Sangin district, Helmand province Thursday.

The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the capture of a Haqqani Network sub-commander responsible for coordinating improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan and coalition forces.

The commander was captured during an Afghan and coalition force operation in Khost province Thursday.

Intelligence tips led the security force to a compound in the village of Shinkay in Khost district. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker calling for all occupants to exit the buildings and then cleared the compounds.

Gunnery Sgt. Jack Coughlin joined the Marine Corps in 1985, after an injury derailed his dreams of becoming a major-league pitcher. He would go on to become one of the Marines’ elite scout-snipers, and his service included a tour of duty in Somalia. However, he would make his mark during the liberation of Iraq, where he had the chance to pioneer the Mobile Sniper Strike Team concept. Here, he describes one of the many engagements that Marines had with Saddam’s thugs while on the road to Baghdad . – Ed.

A TOWN CALLED HELL

A combined Afghan National Security Force and coalition force operation targeting a senior Taliban leader in Helmand province discovered a number of imprisoned Afghan citizens yesterday [2 September].

An Afghan and coalition security force detained several insurgents in Helmand province Thursday, including a Taliban military commander with direct ties to Taliban senior leadership based in Pakistan.

Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Force Soldiers from Task Force White Eagle and Brawler killed five Taliban improvised explosive device emplacers, Sept. 2, during combat operations in the Andar District of Ghazni province.

Iraqi Army Soldiers conducted training Aug. 30 at Joint Security Station Deason in Baghdad, exhibiting their capability to secure a more stable and sovereign Iraq.