64                           HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, 1991:


Colonel Cees Van Egmond, arrived in northern Iraq. With these attaclnnents, the
24th MEU (SOC) formed an unofficial "international brigade" that mustered
about 3,600 personnel.
    At first, the 24th MEU (SOC) and Joint Task Force Bravo shared the former
headquarters of an Iraqi infantry division on the northwestern edge of Zakho, but
they had to part company when troop numbers increased. Joint Task Force Bravo
increased in size during the latter part of April. It soon included the 4th Brigade
(Aviation), 3d Infantry Division; the 18th Engineer Brigade with Naval Mobile
Construction Battalion 133 (SeaBees) attached; the 18th Military Police Brigade;
the 432d Civil Affairs Company; and the Canadian 4th Field Ambulance (a
battalion-size mobile medical unit). The 3d Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airborne)
Combat Team (3-325th ABCT) from a duty station in Italy was expected to
arrive on 27 April.  It was a reinforced infantry battalion cornmanded by
Lieutenant  Colonel John P.  Abizaid, USA,  that included a headquarters
company, three rifle companies, 20 Humvee-mounted TOW antitank launchers,
an 81mm mortar platoon,  a 105rnm artillery battery (Battery D, 319th Field


                                       Painting by Co Peter M. "Mike" Gish, USMCR

A U.S. Manne from BLT 2/8 and a French soldier from the 8th Marine Parnchute Infantry
Regiment stop a vehicle at a jointly manned checkpoint near Zakho.