Thanks to a successful operation earlier this month to drive Al Qaeda from its stronghold in the Diyala River Valley area, US troops have moved into the area and are involved in outreach efforts which send the message that the area is being returned to the citizens.
Earlier this week, hundreds of Iraqis lined up outside an elementary school in Iraq's Northern Diyala River Valley to benefit from a major outreach effort by U.S. and Iraqi military doctors -- the first free medical clinic for residents of the town of Himbus and its surrounding villages. In other villages, US troops passed out school supplies to children, and fleece jackets to needy families.
The above photo (Reuters) shows a U.S. military doctor examining a child in Iskandariyah, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, January 28, 2008. After the successful military offensive against Al Qaeda earlier this month, Himbus was safe enough for coalition forces to invite Iraqi media for a tour of the area on January 21. More here.
Earlier this week, hundreds of Iraqis lined up outside an elementary school in Iraq's Northern Diyala River Valley to benefit from a major outreach effort by U.S. and Iraqi military doctors -- the first free medical clinic for residents of the town of Himbus and its surrounding villages. In other villages, US troops passed out school supplies to children, and fleece jackets to needy families.
The above photo (Reuters) shows a U.S. military doctor examining a child in Iskandariyah, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, January 28, 2008. After the successful military offensive against Al Qaeda earlier this month, Himbus was safe enough for coalition forces to invite Iraqi media for a tour of the area on January 21. More here.
