European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 10, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday february 10, 1993 Somalia the stars and stripes at Page 3 Sas photos Gary Miller a uh-60 Black Hawk helicopter delivers . Troops to aug of s outskirts Jan. 30 before a massive raid on the somalian City. . Troops play cops to City s robbers a . Service member questions aug of residents while others stand watch. By Steve scholar staff writer aug of Somalia the residents of aug of knew a shoot pm up would be inevitable if . Forces decided to Clear the wild West town of bandits. But Oman Aina Inisha for one Felt the risk was Worth it. He said he was tired of living in fear. And so the troops came Toeaina Inisha s City some 45 Miles West of Mogadishu with a massive show of Force Jan. 30. Maj. Gen. Steven l. Arnold army forces commander in Somalia said aug of attracted bandits looters and technical robbers driving armed vehicles common in Somalia who had arrived there from Mogadishu in the Arnold army capt. Jeff Hamill was one of hundreds of soldiers who entered aug of. has been continual pattern of Bandit activity Here Arnold said. People Are robbed by gunpoint As they Pas through Here. Our Job is to Stop the Mission then was Clear take and control this City of 40,000, and search for and confiscate weapons. If the United states was Able to accomplish that Sinai Niche said he would gladly give up his life. The venture included 500infantrymen and assault troops from the 10th Mountain div Light of for drum . They were brought to aug of by 10th aviation brigade helicopters and a Convoy of almost 100 vehicles carrying several Hundred soldiers. A briefing for 10th Convoy member sat Deli Dogle an old soviet Airfield from where they departed stressed the importance of understanding the rules of engagement which allow soldiers to fire if threatened and keeping Cool under fire. As the Convoy left on the two hour drive to aug of the radio crackled with a Brief but terse lock and Load while hundreds of soldiers with m-16 rifles complied. The Convoy rolled through Beli Dogle As a string of somalis threw rocks and shouted obscenities. As the soldiers headed toward aug of which is about Midway Between Sinai Niche Beli Dogle and Mogadishu the red Dusty Deli Dogle Clay turned to a Lush Green foliage. Spoiling what might have been a pleasant drive was the stench of rotting Camel carcasses lining the Road the gagging smell of. Human waste and a multitude of blown up and broken Down cars and trucks. The Convoy reached aug of outskirts about 4 . And waited for helicopters to arrive at 5 . Machine gunners scanned the Countryside for snipers. At 5 ., with Daylight fading quickly the Convoy sped toward the City to Seal off the roads a mane Verthe troops hoped would trap any bandits soldiers moved carefully into the City and began systematic search for weapons and were few lights and Clear night cast a Moonlit Veilon the faces of the wearing brightly coloured clothing an carrying babies peered cautiously from their doors and were asked if there were guns in the House. With the exception of one elderly Man who gave the infantrymen an antique Bolt action Rifle no other weapons were found i that search. Across the City that night however,13 rifles were seized along with hand grenades mortars and ammunition. Stumbling along a Rocky Road the searchers were greeted by curious and watchful somalis. That quickly changed however Ashe group reached a Clearing. With the troops fully exposed by Moonlight the first sniper shot pierced the air. The squad and Media members hit the ground attempting to become part of it. After several minutes the Al Clear was Given. This scenario with and without gunfire continued through the night and was to last four to five Days. Army 2nd it. Scott Criswell called the night s operation successful. We be flushed and got them on Therun he said. We re trying to make this country safer while helping to feed the hungry. I think we re doing a Good Job of it
