X-Ray 45 Cdo RM
Op Haven

We were to deploy as lead company for the Brigade so, as the CSM busily recalled the more adventurous members from the fleshpots of Bangkok, the rest of us set our minds to the task in hand. This was not easy: we did not know when we were leaving; we did not know where we were going; we did not know what our task would be; and we did not know how long we were going for. lesser men would be daunted by such a prospect but by Sunday 21 Apr - less than 72 hours after recall - we were on our way.

Our only stop en route was a short two hours at a military airfield in Turkey. We loaded with front line scales of ammunition, still not knowing what we were going into but figuring it better to be safe than sorry! From Turkey we jumped into helicopters and flew South into Iraq and the unknown. The unknown, as it turned out, was the world's press.

We could not make the slightest move without a press entourage, to the extent that cameramen would follow a patrol through the streets of Zakho, partly out of curiosity and partly to ensure they did not miss the tiniest outbreak of trouble. in the end the only pictures they received were of highly professional Marines carrying out the role they do so well.

Zakho had been the scene of vicious fighting several times in the previous few months, and the state of the town reflected this. Many buildings were partially destroyed, a repugnant stench pervaded, wrecked vehicles were everywhere and empty cases, unspent munitions and Iraqi military equipment littered the streets. Booby trapped munitions and unmarked minefields posed a threat. The Iraqi Secret Police soon withdrew and we moved into the mountains Patrolling North towards the refugee camps on the border we came across a Peshmerga roadblock. They were armed to the teeth with AKMs, pistols, bandoliers and lots of RPG7's slung nonchalantly over the shoulder. Once contact was established it became apparent that they were preventing refugees leaving the mountain camps. They saw it as their role to protect their people and they would not allow them to return unless they were convinced the 'Safe Haven' had been achieved. After a number of meetings with junior leaders from different factions we managed to arrange a meeting with their senior commander. He was personally shown Zakho and subsequently gave permission for the refugees to begin to return home. This proved to be the break-through and the Kurds began to flood down from the mountains. At the time of writing Zakho is thriving and the tent city on the outskirts now contains 53,000 formerly homeless Kurds.

Mne Andrew Wallace & Cpl George Owen
keep an eye on things

After a move East to the shattered village of Birmini we found ourselves in Kuwani a small Christian village in the East of the unit TAOR. With the help of the local priest, a colourful character who spoke five languages and had served for three years in the Iraqi Army, we distributed much-needed food to the returning population, and maintained patrols in the local area. It was very encouraging to see normal life returning to the village and by the time we left nearly all the original population was back.

More recently we have moved South to become the southern-most company. From our high vantage points we now look down onto Iraqi Army positions, and have a perfect view each morning of Saddam's soldiers performing drill and PT. What Kurds there are in this mountainous region are, as ever, ecstatic to see us. However, mistaking us for Iraqis has happened occasionally and on one occasion a patrol from 1 Tp was fired on. Twelve men have probably never abandoned their Landrovers so quickly! No casualties were sustained and the quick identification of a Peshmerga youth and the establishment of our nationality prevented the incident from deteriorating.

LCpl Martin Carlon and Mne Mark Stewart Cool off.

To the individual on the ground the success of our deployment is not always apparent. However, a massive amount has been achieved. The security that our presence has brought to this region has enabled hundreds of thousands of Kurds to leave the squalor and despair of the mountains and has offered them hope for the future. For ourselves the routine goes on, the tans grow deeper, the mosquitoes continue to bite and the ants annoy. Around us, though, progress is definitely being made.