Iraqi Army ridding Rumaylah of unexploded mines

[Batgirl]

Soldiers from 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company, part of 10th Division Iraqi Army, have been ridding the area around the Rumaylah oilfields in southern Iraq of unexploded mines planted there by Iraqi Forces during the conflict in 2003.


An Iraqi soldier from 70 Bomb Disposal Company prodding for mines.
[Picture: LA(Phot) Dave Griffiths, Basrah Press Information Centre]

A team of six bomb disposal experts have spent two months clearing a 17 kilometre stretch of minefield to prevent injury and loss of life to local people and also to enable electricity cables to be run between Rumaylah and Basrah city. The area is riddled with anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. The bomb disposal team has disposed of 160 kilogrammes of unexploded ordnance since they began their task.

Currently, electricity to power the oil fields is drawn from power stations in Basrah. Once the new power cables have been laid, the oilfields will be able to get their electricity from power stations in the local area. This will make a significant difference to the region's electricity supply, especially in the summer when there is more pressure on it due to the extra levels of power consumption by the use of air conditioning units.

When clearing an area, the bomb disposal soldiers mark it off with mine tape after first identifying the mines and marking them up with flags and stakes – each stake represents four mines. Clearing the area is a painstaking business - it takes ten minutes to clear one square metre of minefield. Anti-tank mines are sometimes safely removed from the area and disposed of at one of the Iraqi Army ranges rather than on location.


Major Andy Teeton from the Joint (UK) EOD Team (left) and Captain Mahmoud Ayad, Officer Commanding of 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company (right).
[Picture: LA(Phot) Dave Griffiths, Basrah Press Information Centre]

Anti-personnel mines are much more sensitive and cannot safely be moved. In order to clear the area, cordons are erected and charges placed next to the mines. They are then detonated under the watchful eye of the Joint (UK) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group from Multi National Division (South East). They ensure that the Iraqi bomb disposal teams are setting up the demolitions correctly and safely. Once the disposal has been completed, stakes are left in the ground to show that an area has been cleared.
Captain Mahmoud Ayad, Officer Commanding 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company, said:

"Now that the area has been cleared of mines, this will mean that there should hopefully be less accidents and less injuries and work to lay the electricity lines can begin straight away."

Captain Mahmoud Ayad, Officer Commanding 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company
"Many accidents have happened in this area even though people know that there are minefields around here. Now that the area has been cleared of mines, this will mean that there should hopefully be less accidents and less injuries and work to lay the electricity lines can begin straight away.

"Our Company and one from each Division within the Iraqi Army has received formal EOD training and we have been issued with all the tools and equipment and vehicles we need to do the job. We are working towards a state where we can safely conduct safe and independent EOD tasks, using our own explosives that have been securely stored and procured through the Iraqi Army supply chain."

Major Andy Teeton from the Joint (UK) EOD Group is part of the Multi National Division (South East) team mentoring and monitoring 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company. He said:

"Our team is working with the Iraqi Army to provide them with explosives to enable them to carry out supervised demolitions of unexploded ordnance and ensure that the Iraqis are conducting operations safely.


Soldiers from 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company using metal detectors to search for mines.
[Picture: LA(Phot) Dave Griffiths, Basrah Press Information Centre]

"We are working alongside the Company at all levels, from the teams on the ground all the way up to the Company leadership and the Company's relationship with its Divisional Headquarters. I have always been very impressed with the Iraqis and the professional way that the soldiers clear areas and gather munitions.

"At the moment the Iraqi Army EOD Company doesn't have secure facilities to store explosives, that’s why we bring along the explosives and come to supervise their demolitions. It is hoped that they will have a secure facility to store explosives once the new 10 Division headquarters are built."

As well as clearing unexploded ordnance, 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company also responds to incidents in the Al Basrah Province involving the Iraqi Security Forces, including rocket, mortar and grenade attacks. They also provide specialist support to Iraqi Security Forces operations.


Soldiers from 70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company prodding for mines.
[Picture: LA(Phot) Dave Griffiths, Basrah Press Information Centre]

The Company was formed in December 2003 and is made up of ninety people. The Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal School and 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) conducted an initial thirteen week course to the Company’s soldiers providing basic Explosive Ordnance Disposal instruction, leadership and first aid skills to the soldiers, who graduated as Conventional Munitions Disposal Operators.

70 (Iraqi Army) Bomb Disposal Company will also be undertaking further training to learn how to neutralise Improvised Explosive Devices as well as training 'trainers' within the Company so that it can conduct its own EOD training in future.

MoD News