CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, Dec. 3, 2009 – The adage “Send in the cavalry” once referred to soldiers on horseback, riding to the aid of embattled comrades. Today, that same call for backup can be made a lot quicker and with much more devastating effect through the Army’s joint operations.

BAGHDAD (AFNS) -- Airmen assigned to the Iraq Police Transition Team here started a new class Nov.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) -- Members of the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here, recently reached 1,000 combat sorties in the MC-12W aircraft only five months after arriving in-theater. Currently operating only at Joint Base Balad, the MC-12 is one of the Air Force's newest platforms for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Airmen and Iraqi army technicians destroyed a stockpile of captured munitions and improvised explosive device components weighing close to 1,200 pounds Nov.

Iraqi Police arrested four suspected members of IED-cells belonging to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) today during two joint security operations near Baghdad and Kirkuk. During a joint security operation conducted in Karmah, west of Baghdad, Iraqi Police arrested an alleged associate of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell believed to be responsible for attacks targeting government buildings and civilians in Baghdad.   Intelligence sources led the security team to a location where the suspect was known to be hiding.

Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. forces, arrested Harith Sa’dun Dawud Al-Rubayi, a suspected leader of a terrorist group, and a suspected associate, Mortuda Nasir Hamud, in Diyala province Nov. 22. A warrant was issued by the Highest Judicial Court of Muqdadiyah for Harith’s arrest for suspicion of murder, kidnapping and violent explosives attacks against Iraqi citizens and ISF units.

Intelligence reporting indicated that foreign fighters could be located in a town in Iraq's northwestern Ninewah province near the Syrian border. A short time later, ground forces moved through the city. Simultaneously, Hawaii-based Soldiers flying two UH-60 Black Hawks inserted Iraqi commandos and Michigan-based infantrymen near the main supply route to prevent vehicles and personnel fleeing the town, Nov.

Iraqi Security Forces arrested five suspected members of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) terrorist groups today during three joint security operations conducted in Ramadi, Tikrit and Kirkuk.  ISF and U.S.